“We’ve got to go back!” Jaypaw told her.
“But it’s so beautiful.”
“You shouldn’t be here!” I promised Sorreltail!
The trees opened before them.
“Stop!” Poppypaw gasped. “There’s a drop in front of us.”
Jaypaw could clearly see the hollow below them, the Moonpool cradled at the bottom like liquid starlight. In this place everything was connected, and the forest led all the way into the mountains. Jaypaw’s heart sank when he saw the shining pelts of StarClan gathered around the slopes.
“There’s a pool at the bottom,” Poppypaw breathed. “There are cats all around it….” Her mew trailed away. “It’s StarClan, isn’t it? Does that mean I’m dead?”
Jaypaw’s throat went dry.
“Am I dead?” she repeated more urgently.
“Not yet.”
Jaypaw spun around when he heard Spottedleaf’s voice.
“Coming here with her was very brave,” murmured the tortoiseshell cat.
“I promised her mother I’d keep her safe,” Jaypaw told her.
Poppypaw’s eyes clouded with confusion as she stared at Spottedleaf. “Who are you? Have you come to guide me to StarClan?”
“No!” Jaypaw growled. “Come back to the Clan with me, Poppypaw. I’ll take you home.”
“It’s okay, little one,” Spottedleaf meowed. “You can go with Jaypaw. There is a place here for you, but not yet.” Stretching forward, she touched her muzzle first to Poppypaw’s and then to Jaypaw’s. “Take her home,” she whispered.
Thank you! “Follow me,” he told Poppypaw, and, turning away from the glittering hollow, he led her back into the forest.
Brightheart’s voice cut through the air. “Jaypaw!”
He blinked open his eyes into darkness. “Brightheart?”
“I thought you were ill too,” Brightheart whispered. “Your breathing was so slow.”
Poppypaw!
He leaped to his paws and pressed his ear against her flank. She was still sleeping, but her breathing was deeper, steady and strong.
“How is she?” Brightheart asked.
“Better than she was.” Jaypaw sighed, closing his eyes with relief.
“I woke up and found the two of you hardly breathing.” Jaypaw could feel Brightheart’s gaze burning his pelt. “I’m glad you’re all right.” She brushed her tail briskly over the den floor. “Dawn’s nearly here. I’ll go and find Sorreltail. She’ll be relieved to hear the news.”
As Brightheart padded out of the den, Jaypaw felt fresh energy tingling through his paws. He leaned down and whispered in the apprentice’s ear, “I promised I would save you.”
Poppypaw stirred. “Jaypaw? Is that you?” Her voice was weak and whispery. “I had the strangest dream!”
Jaypaw tensed. He couldn’t let the other cats know what he had done to bring Poppypaw back from StarClan. “I expect it was because of the fever,” he soothed her.
“Maybe.” Poppypaw sounded uncertain. “I was in a forest I’d never seen before, but it felt like home. There were other cats there—and you, Jaypaw! You said I didn’t have to stay….”
Jaypaw turned away. “It was just a dream. You’re better now. That’s all that matters.”
“Leafpool’s here!” Brackenfur’s cry filled the hollow, and Jaypaw raced from the den. He could smell the catmint already, and knew that Leafpool had brought plenty.
She was hurrying toward him, fragrant leaves bunched in her jaws. Thornclaw and Brambleclaw followed, carrying more. They dropped them at the den entrance while Jaypaw followed Leafpool inside.
“We left Weaselfur and Kestrelpaw at the lake,” she told him when she had put down the catmint. “Mothwing had plenty. She gave us enough to cure all our sick Clanmates. She said she’d have sent some earlier if she’d known.”
And who would have told her? thought Jaypaw. Not StarClan. He began to help Leafpool dose the sick cats.
Sorreltail nosed her way into the den, relief and gratitude flooding the air around her. “I don’t know how you did it, but I know you helped Poppypaw survive the night.” Her voice was thick with emotion. “Thank you.”
Jaypaw felt Leafpool’s tail gently flick his flank. “I knew you’d be fine without me,” she meowed.
As Jaypaw pressed another pawful of catmint beneath Whitewing’s nose, he heard Leafpool slip out of the den. The medicine cat had been quiet since she returned. Not just because she was busy tending to the sick cats—Jaypaw could sense that something was troubling her. He lifted his muzzle, intrigued, as the brambles swept back into place after her.
“Eat these slowly,” he advised Whitewing. “I’ll be back in a moment.”
He nosed his way out of the den and sniffed. Leafpool was sitting below Highledge with Firestar. Quietly, he hurried into the clearing and ducked down behind the halfrock. The two cats were sharing words in hushed whispers.
“There’s sickness in all the Clans,” Leafpool told Firestar. “Greencough and whitecough. The frosts have taken their toll on prey in every territory, and all the Clans are weakened by hunger.”
“Even ShadowClan?”
“Littlecloud joined us to fetch catmint,” she answered. “He told me that they had lost an elder.”
Sadness pulsed from Firestar. “It’s been a hard leaf-bare for every Clan.”
Jaypaw pricked his ears. He could tell that Leafpool had not said all that she meant to. Then Leafpool whispered so quietly that Jaypaw had to stretch forward to hear.
“There’s a lot of bad feeling in the Clans,” she murmured. “A feeling that this run of cold weather and sickness and poor prey is more than just bad luck.”
Jaypaw’s blood pounded, and Leafpool’s mew was suddenly swamped by the murmuring of distant voices that rang in his ears, voices from all four Clans around the lake…. StarClan doesn’t want us to stay here! The new territories can’t support us all. What if the sickness spreads?
The whispers of doubt crowded his mind. He pressed himself to the earth and closed his eyes. Was StarClan punishing the Clans, and if so, why?
CHAPTER 24
Hollypaw twitched her nose. Something was different. The air smelled damp and warm.
Happily, she stretched in her nest, pushing against Hazelpaw’s back with her hind paws.
“Get off!” Hazelpaw complained.
“Can’t you smell it?”
Hazelpaw yawned. “Smell what?”
“It’s warmer!” Hollypaw jumped out of her nest.
She ducked out of the den and screwed up her eyes against the light. The frost had gone. The clearing was damp where the ice had melted, the bushes dripping, and sunshine was already filling the camp with pale yellow. At the top of the cliffs, the trees seemed wrapped in a green haze. Newleaf had arrived at last.
Firestorm was grooming Sandstorm below Highledge. His bones looked sharp beneath his pelt as he crouched to lick Sandstorm’s ears, but his tail flicked happily. Icekit and Foxkit squealed with delight as Birchfall and Berrypaw chased them in circles outside the nursery. Ferncloud rested beside Daisy at the den entrance, clearly enjoying the morning’s warmth. Her eyes were clear, and only a little crust around her nose betrayed that she had been so ill. Poppypaw was on the mend too, recovering in the elders’ nest with Mousefur, though she wouldn’t be well enough to go to the Gathering tonight.
Hollypaw heard paws pounding through the thorn barrier, and Thornclaw charged into camp at the head of a patrol. A mouse dangled from his jaws. Whitewing followed him, carrying a small chaffinch, and Ashfur and Lionpaw came in last, each carrying a vole.
Hollypaw’s eyes grew round. She hadn’t seen so much fresh-kill in ages.
As Thornclaw dropped his catch onto the patch of earth that had been empty for too long, Firestar got to his paws to greet the returning patrol. “It looks like the prey’s running richer already!”
Lionpaw padded excitedly around Ashfur. “There were primroses on the ShadowClan border an
d buds on the Sky Oak!”
“And prey seemed to be moving in every burrow,” Whitewing added.
Firestar scanned the clearing. “Brambleclaw?”
The deputy came hurrying out of the warriors’ den, Squirrelflight behind him.
“The prey’s running again.” Firestar flicked his tail toward the fresh-kill pile. “Lead another patrol out toward the WindClan border and see what you can catch.”
Brambleclaw’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Berrypaw!” he called to his apprentice. “We’re going hunting.”
Berrypaw stopped chasing the kits.
“Can we come too?” Foxkit begged.
Icekit swiped her brother playfully around the ears. “We’re only kits,” she mewed. “They’ll never let us go with them.”
“But watch this hunting move!” Foxkit crouched down, sticking his tail in the air and wiggling his haunches. He lunged forward and landed on a leaf, pinning it to the ground.
Icekit’s short whiskers quivered with amusement. “Next time we need leaves, I’m sure Brambleclaw will ask you to help!”
“You’ll make a great warrior,” Berrypaw told him. “And I promise to bring something tasty back for you.”
Hollypaw darted forward. “Can I go with them?” she asked Brambleclaw.
“You’re going to the Gathering tonight,” he meowed. “I want you to save your energy for that.”
“But I’ve been asleep half the morning,” she protested.
“You’re half-starved, like the rest of the Clan,” Brambleclaw told her. “Rest and eat today. You can hunt tomorrow.”
“But Lionpaw’s been hunting!” Hollypaw answered hotly. “It’s not fair.”
“Life isn’t fair. Stay in camp.” He nodded to Squirrelflight and together they led Berrypaw out into the forest.
Furious, Hollypaw turned and stomped across the clearing. Her Clan was starving and they wouldn’t let her hunt! For a moment she wondered whether to sneak out of camp and hunt by herself. But if she got caught Firestar probably wouldn’t let her go to the Gathering or hunting tomorrow. It wasn’t worth it.
Overhead, the great white moon made the hollow glow with silver light.
Hollypaw sniffed the air. Clear skies. A good sign.
Graystripe and Millie waited in the clearing with Ashfur and Stormfur. Brackenfur sat beside them, tugging with his teeth at the fur between his claws. Squirrelflight washed her ears as Brambleclaw stood next to her and glanced up at Highledge. They would leave for the Gathering as soon as Firestar appeared.
The apprentices were fidgeting beside the thorn barrier.
“Do you think Blackstar will mention the battle?” Cinderpaw mewed.
Honeypaw paced in front of the camp entrance. “I bet ShadowClan never talks about its defeats.”
“What do you think, Hollypaw?” Lionpaw asked. But Hollypaw hardly heard. Jaypaw was staring at the patrol as it prepared to leave camp. His clear blue gaze gave nothing away, but she knew how disappointed he must be.
She padded over to him. “I’ll tell you about it as soon as I get back,” she promised.
Jaypaw didn’t reply.
She pressed her flank against his. “You’ll go to the next Gathering, I’m sure,” she comforted him. “Poppypaw and Mousefur will be better by then.”
“I know.” Only the smallest twitch of his tail betrayed his frustration.
“Hollypaw!” Brackenfur’s call made her jump. Firestar had leaped down from Highledge, Sandstorm behind him.
“I’ve got to go,” she mewed.
“Hurry up!” Lionpaw called as she hurried to join the others.
Hollypaw glanced over her shoulder at Jaypaw. He had gotten to his paws and was padding slowly toward the elders’ den.
“Jaypaw will be fine,” Cinderpaw reassured her.
Hollypaw stiffened her shoulders. Jaypaw was taking care of his Clan. Besides, she didn’t want to worry about her brother right now. This was her first Gathering as a warrior apprentice, and her paws tingled with anticipation.
Firestar signaled with a flick of his tail, then dived out through the thorn tunnel. Brambleclaw and the other warriors sped after him. The apprentices bunched together as they raced to be first out of camp. Lionpaw’s pelt brushed against Hollypaw’s. His fur was bristling as they burst from the tunnel.
“Do you think the other Clans know I’m a warrior apprentice now?” Hollypaw panted, ducking through the bracken.
“If they don’t, I’m sure you’ll tell them,” Lionpaw teased.
Hollypaw nudged him with her shoulder and sent him veering against a bramble bush.
“Hey!” he protested. Hollypaw sped ahead and Lionpaw pelted after her.
She raced past Ashfur and Stormfur and swerved to shelter behind Brackenfur. “Help!” she squealed. “Lionpaw’s trying to get me!”
A purr rumbled in Brackenfur’s throat. “Don’t hide behind me!” He lengthened his stride and shot forward, leaving Hollypaw undefended. Lionpaw caught up with her and nudged her, making her stumble.
“Now we’re even!” he called.
“I’ll get you later!” she threatened.
The patrol pounded down the slope toward the lakeshore. Graystripe pulled ahead, clearly excited to be going to a Gathering with his Clan once more. He glanced, eyes shining, at Millie, as she caught up with him. “Do you still think you made the right decision, coming with me to the Clan?”
“Wherever you are is the right place for me to be,” Millie replied quietly.
Leaves turned to grass and then marsh beneath their paws, and the cats slowed as they skirted the lake. They had to travel slowly over the boggy earth, which gave way under every pawstep.
Before long Hollypaw could see the silhouette of the fallen tree bridging the gap between shore and island. Her paws tingled, and she quickened her step. Firestar and Squirrelflight were already crossing, with Sandstorm and Honeypaw right behind them, while Brambleclaw and Berrypaw waited their turn next to Leafpool.
“Are you ready?” Brackenfur asked as he caught up to her by the tree-bridge.
“Totally!” she mewed.
“Up you go, then.” Brackenfur waited while Hollypaw scrambled up among the tangled roots. She unsheathed her claws, ready for the slippery bark. Gripping on tightly, she wove her way among the twigs and knotholes, relieved when she had crossed the black, lapping water and could jump down onto the shore.
While the other cats crossed behind her, Hollypaw watched for Firestar’s signal. Moonlight glittered on the lake beyond the trees, and she could smell the scents of the other Clans already on the island. Her heart thumped as hard as rabbits’ paws when Firestar nodded and headed into the undergrowth.
Hollypaw couldn’t wait to talk to her fellow apprentices. She was one of them now, and she realized how much she had felt like an outsider when she had been a medicine cat apprentice.
“I hope—” she began.
But Lionpaw had halted. He was staring into the clearing. “Something’s wrong,” he whispered.
“What?” Hollypaw glanced around, suddenly apprehensive.
It seemed different from last time. The other cats were huddled with their Clanmates, not milling around or sharing tongues with different Clans. They looked thinner and angrier, their eyes gleaming like foxes’.
“What’s wrong with everyone?” Hollypaw mewed.
“It’s been a tough leaf-bare,” Firestar reassured his Clanmates. “Everyone’s weaker and hungrier. They’ll be warier. So be cautious.”
Hollypaw stayed by her brother. She didn’t like the angry glances that flashed from warrior to warrior.
“Don’t worry,” Lionpaw murmured. “Everyone will settle down soon.”
A hiss and a yowl made Hollypaw jerk her head around. Fur and claws flew as Berrypaw leaped onto Owlpaw. The ShadowClan apprentice wrestled him over and pinned him to the ground, but Berrypaw slid sideways with a quick, clean jerk and unbalanced him.
“Stop it!” Bramblecla
w’s fierce mew echoed around the trees. He raced to his apprentice and plucked him away from Owlpaw by his scruff. Berrypaw’s legs still churned in the air, his claws gleaming in the moonlight.
“There’s a truce!” Brambleclaw reminded him sternly.
Hollypaw glanced up at the moon. Thin wisps of cloud were drifting in front of it. Her heart lurched. Had Berrypaw and Owlpaw upset StarClan?
Berrypaw shook out his pelt as Brambleclaw dropped him unceremoniously to the ground. “Owlpaw started it,” he growled. “He called me a kittypet!”
Hollypaw felt her pelt bristle. Berrypaw had been training for moons to be a ThunderClan warrior. And yet he wasn’t truly Clanborn. He had been born in horseplace with Hazelpaw and Mousepaw, not in the hollow. Daisy had brought them to ThunderClan only to stop the Twolegs from taking them away.
A yowl sounded from the Great Oak. “Let the Gathering begin!” Firestar called.
Hollypaw wove her way through her Clanmates to sit between Leafpool and Brambleclaw. Lionpaw squeezed in beside her.
“Look at the way Blackstar is glaring at us!” she gulped. The ShadowClan leader was staring down at the ThunderClan cats through slitted eyes, his lips twitching as though he only just suppressed a snarl.
Leopardstar spoke first. “RiverClan has suffered this past moon.” The golden-spotted tabby gazed solemnly around the Clans. “Just when we hoped newleaf would bring an end to the hard season, new frosts brought more hunger, and with it, sickness.”
Cats from all four Clans murmured in agreement.
Leopardstar narrowed her eyes. “Who knows what the next seasons will bring? Twolegs invaded our territories last greenleaf. Will they come in greater numbers this time and destroy our land, just as they did in the forest?”
“Why should they?” Ashfoot called from among WindClan.
“Why should leaf-bare have brought so much tragedy?” Leopardstar shot back. “Is StarClan trying to send us a message? Could it be that we do not belong here?”
“I’ve had no signs from StarClan to suggest anything like that!” Leafpool put in quickly.
“Nor I!” Barkface agreed.
“We’ve always had to endure times of hunger and sickness,” Squirrelflight pointed out. “Even back in the forest!”