“Why can’t you and Violetkit stay in camp like normal kits?” he asked bluntly. “Clan kits are asleep in their nests by moonhigh.”
Twigkit whipped her tail indignantly. “We’re special,” she told him.
Tigerheart snorted. “Let’s wait and see about that.” He turned, nodding to his patrol. Then he leaned toward to Alderpaw. “I hope you find the herbs you’re looking for. But I think you should get Twigkit home. It’s going to be a cold night, and her pelt is still only kit fluff.”
Alderpaw dipped his head. “I will,” he promised. “She’ll sleep well now that she knows her sister is safe.” He glanced at Twigkit as Tigerheart led his Clanmates back onto ShadowClan territory and disappeared into the darkness.
“That was close,” Alderpaw whispered. “It’s probably a good thing Needlepaw and Violetkit couldn’t come. We’d have been in trouble if the patrol had found us together.”
Twigkit gazed at him sadly. “I guess.” How long would it be before she got another chance to see Violetkit?
Alderpaw must have seen the sadness in her gaze. He touched his muzzle to her head. “Let’s go home. I’ll speak to Needlepaw as soon as I can and arrange another meeting.”
“What if Violetkit can never get away?” Twigkit followed Alderpaw as he headed back along the trail.
“I’m sure she will,” Alderpaw promised.
“Perhaps it would be better if no one thought we were special.” Twigkit sighed. “Then we could have stayed together.” She stopped, a sudden thought piercing her like a thorn. “What if we’re not special? Rowanstar will have taken her away for nothing!”
Alderpaw turned, his eyes round with sympathy. “Of course you’re special,” he reassured her.
Twigkit lashed her tail determinedly. “I’m going to be. Otherwise there’s no point. I’m going to grow up big and strong and be important just like you.”
Alderpaw’s whiskers twitched. “I’m not very important.”
“But you will be,” Twigkit insisted. “Once you’re a medicine cat like Jayfeather.” She puffed out her chest. “I’m going to be a medicine cat too. I know about herbs already, and I know I’ll be good at it. And I won’t be a grumpy medicine cat like Jayfeather. I’ll be a nice one like you and Leafpool.”
Alderpaw’s gaze glistened fondly. “I’m touched that you want to be like me. But you’re young. Don’t decide on your future yet. Your paws will walk wherever they must go. And you may change your mind about becoming a medicine cat.”
“But I want to be important,” Twigkit insisted.
“You will be,” Alderpaw draped his tail over her spine and guided her forward. “But there are other ways to be important in a Clan. Look at Bramblestar and Squirrelflight. Or Graystripe and Millie. All cats find their own places in the Clan. And one day you’ll find yours.”
Twigkit padded closer, her pelt brushing his. “Do you really think so?”
Alderpaw wrapped his tail tighter around her. “I’m certain.”
CHAPTER 10
Crouching miserably beside the nursery, Violetkit stared across the camp. Clouds covered the sun, and a damp wind rattled the brambles. She shivered. Beside her, Pinenose swallowed the last morsel of mouse and sat up. “I’m going inside. Bad weather’s coming.” She glanced at Violetkit. “You’d better come with me.”
Violetkit’s heart sank. “Can I just finish this?” She pawed her half-eaten shrew closer. She wasn’t hungry, but she wanted to stay outside a while longer. Being stuck in camp was boring, but being inside the nursery was worse. Especially when Grassheart’s kits were asleep and she wasn’t allowed to make a sound.
“Okay,” Pinenose agreed. “But don’t be long.”
As the queen disappeared into the bramble den, Violetkit pretended to take another mouthful of shrew. Since the rogues had brought her back, Pinenose had watched her like a hawk. Violetkit felt a prickle of resentment toward Darktail. Why had he marched right into the camp? She knew the Clan blamed her for leading enemies into their home. The older warriors eyed her as if she were a traitor. But weirdly, the younger warriors and apprentices had begun to greet her as they passed, interest glittering in their gaze as though they had just noticed she existed. Yarrowpaw had even stopped and asked what the rogues were like, but Pinenose had shooed the apprentice away. “How would Violetkit know?” the queen had snapped. “They just found her in the woods. They didn’t make friends with her.”
As her thoughts wandered, Violetkit gazed across the clearing. Leafpool and Puddlepaw were rolling herbs into bundles outside the medicine den. Crowfrost was sharing a thrush with Dawnpelt. Berryheart and Rippletail lounged outside the warriors’ den, half-asleep as the wind rippled their fur. Tawnypelt, Tigerheart, and Spikefur sheltered from the wind beside the great stone, while Rowanstar sat outside his den, watching the camp through half-closed eyes.
Violetkit looked toward the elders’ den. Was Needlepaw there? She hadn’t seen her friend all morning. Perhaps Kinkfur had sent her to fetch fresh bracken for her bedding again.
Loneliness gnawed at Violetkit’s belly. She looked hopefully toward Yarrowpaw and Beepaw. They were practicing battle moves at the edge of the clearing while Sleekpaw lay in the long grass and watched. Perhaps they would teach her how to fight. That had to be more interesting than sitting in the nursery with Pinenose. She tried to catch their eye, but they didn’t notice her. She blinked at Juniperpaw. The black tom was trotting toward the entrance after his mentor, Stonewing. He didn’t look her way. Perhaps Strikepaw would speak to her. But the tabby tom was nodding unenthusiastically as Wasptail demonstrated a hunting stance in the clearing. He yawned wearily as Wasptail crouched close to the ground.
Suddenly a hiss sounded beside the entrance. Violetkit jerked her gaze toward the bramble tunnel. Stonewing stood, back arched, his pelt spiked. Strikepaw crouched beside him, growling. Their gaze was fixed on a tom padding into camp.
Rain.
Violetkit recognized the gray tom at once. She got to her paws, her pelt rippling nervously along her spine. What was he doing here?
A plump pigeon hung from his jaws. Behind him, Raven and Flame squeezed through the tunnel. They each carried prey. Violetkit smelled the warm fragrance of blood.
Crowfrost lifted his head sharply, baring his teeth as he saw the rogues. He hurried across the clearing to meet them. “What are you doing here?” His ears were flat as he stopped in front of Rain.
Leafpool poked her head from the medicine den, her eyes rounding with surprise.
Rowanstar bounded from his den and skidded to a halt beside his deputy. “I told you to leave our territory!” he told the rogues.
Rain laid the pigeon in front of the ShadowClan leader. “We brought you these offerings.” He dipped his head as Flame placed a young rabbit beside the pigeon and Raven dropped a fat thrush on top. It was fine prey.
Crowfrost stared at the heap warily. Rowanstar flexed his claws.
“We want to join your Clan,” Rain meowed before either cat could speak.
“Join ShadowClan?” Rowanstar stared at the rogue, eyes widening.
Tawnypelt, Tigerheart, and Spikefur padded from the shelter of the great stone. Leafpool moved closer to Puddlepaw. The other apprentices lined up at the edge of the clearing, their eyes sparkling with interest.
Needlepaw! Violetkit suddenly realized that her friend was among her denmates. She blinked. Where had she been?
Rain crouched submissively in front of Rowanstar and gazed hopefully at the Clan leader.
Rowanstar glared at him. “Did you think you could bribe your way in with prey you caught on our land?”
Crowfrost hissed. “No cat hunts in ShadowClan territory except ShadowClan.”
Rain crouched lower. “I’m sorry. We didn’t realize.” He glanced at his campmates, who both dipped their heads humbly. “Forgive us,” he went on. “If we have offended you, we will leave.”
As he turned, Rowanstar leaned forward. “Wait.”
&nbs
p; Rain faced the leader, a faint glow lighting his eyes.
“Where in our territory did you find such good prey?” Curiosity softened Rowanstar’s mew.
“We are lucky when it comes to hunting,” Rain told him. “Perhaps we can bring some of that luck to your Clan.”
“No.” Crowfrost stepped forward, his black-and-white pelt bristling. “Take your prey and leave!” He glared at Rowanstar. “We can’t accept prey from cats who attacked another Clan!”
“Why not?” Needlepaw demanded.
Violetkit stiffened as her friend padded forward.
“Is WindClan our friend now?” Needlepaw looked around her Clanmates. “I thought ShadowClan stood alone. The only truce we recognize is the truce of the Gathering. Why deny ourselves prey on WindClan’s behalf?”
Sleekpaw and Strikepaw were nodding.
So was Berryheart. The young black-and-white she-cat lashed her tail. “Would WindClan do the same for us?”
Sleekpaw joined Needlepaw. “WindClan has never brought us prey. Nor has ThunderClan or RiverClan. But we’re supposed to feel loyal to them. Why?”
Violetkit frowned. If the Clans weren’t meant to stick together, did that make Twigkit her enemy? Anxiety prickled in her fur.
“Why?” Rowanstar repeated Sleekpaw’s question, his eyes widening with surprise. “Because they are Clanborn like us. They follow the warrior code.”
“These are rogues!” Crowfrost puffed out his chest. “They have no code.”
“We could learn,” Rain mewed softly.
Rowanstar stared at him. “Why should we believe you?”
Rain glanced around the camp. “We see how you live,” he meowed. “How you thrive. We want to be like you.”
Tigerheart marched forward, his eyes glittering with outrage. “Then go and start your own Clan, on your own land!”
Rowanstar drew himself up. “I’ve had you escorted from our land before. Today you will be escorted again.” He nodded sharply to Tigerheart, Spikefur, and Tawnypelt. “Next time we find you on ShadowClan territory, you will feel the sharpness of our claws.”
The rogues glanced at one another. Violetkit searched their gaze for some sign of fear, but they showed only calm acceptance.
Rain blinked at Rowanstar. “We will respect your wishes.”
Rowanstar stiffened. “You have no choice.”
Rain flashed him an amused look before turning away and letting Tawnypelt lead the way out of camp.
Violetkit swallowed. She realized that her heart was beating hard. Needlepaw had taken a risk speaking out for the rogues. Why had she done it? Wasn’t her Clan more important than her new rogue friends?
As the patrol disappeared through the bramble tunnel, Needlepaw crossed the clearing.
Violetkit’s breath caught in her throat as Needlepaw stopped in front of Rowanstar.
She kicked the prey toward him. “What are you going to do with this?” she snarled. “Throw it out with the rogues?”
Rowanstar’s eyes widened with shock. “ShadowClan catches its own prey.”
“We’d catch more if we had Clanmates like them.” Needlepaw flicked her tail toward the entrance. “Why didn’t you let them join?”
Dawnpelt padded from the edge of the clearing. “They’re not Clanborn.”
“Neither is Violetkit,” Needlepaw retorted. “But you let her join. And what did she offer the Clan but another mouth to feed?”
Violetkit’s heart lurched. Was that truly what Needlepaw believed? I thought you were my friend!
Tigerheart looked at the silver apprentice. “You’re the one who brought her back from Alderpaw’s quest,” he pointed out. “You made such a big deal about her being part of the prophecy that Rowanstar had to take her.”
Dawnpelt flicked her tail. “She is part of the prophecy. One day Violetkit may clear the skies.”
“You don’t even know what that means!” Needlepaw’s pelt bristled along her spine. “You turned away three strong hunters. Why?”
Tawnypelt padded forward, her stern gaze raking Needlepaw. “That’s enough!” she snapped.
“It’s not enough!” Strikepaw marched forward and stopped beside Needlepaw. “We have a chance to make ShadowClan powerful again.”
Yarrowpaw whisked her tail. “Aren’t you tired of agreeing with everything ThunderClan suggests? Don’t you wish we could hunt where we please instead of where the other Clans tell us we can hunt?”
Rowanstar flexed his claws. “Do you want war with the other Clans?”
Strikepaw flattened his ears. “We want to choose our own path, not follow the path of other Clans.”
“What you want doesn’t matter!” Rowanstar hissed. “I am ShadowClan’s leader. I decide what’s best. Taking in strange cats who have proved they are dangerous is not good for any Clan.”
“Not for weak Clans like WindClan or RiverClan,” Strikepaw snarled. “But we are ShadowClan. With cats like those, we could rule the whole lake!”
“You are young and foolish.” Rowanstar struggled to calm his mew. “You don’t understand the pain and loss that battle brings. I have been too soft with you.” His gaze flicked around the other apprentices. “With all of you. I’ve let small rules be broken.” He caught Juniperpaw’s eye. “Don’t think I don’t smell the prey blood on your breath when you return from hunting. What you catch is for the fresh-kill pile, not your own belly.” He lifted his chin, yowling across the camp. “From now on, the warrior code will be followed. StarClan is watching us. Respect for our ancestors will guide our paws.”
Violetkit watched Needlepaw, wishing she’d drop her gaze and back away.
Instead the silver she-cat glared at the ShadowClan leader. “You want us to obey a bunch of dead cats!” She nodded toward the pines looming over the camp. “Look at the living world. It has everything we need. We can push our territory as far as we like and take whatever we want. Who cares what StarClan thinks? Their lives are over. It’s our turn to live.”
Behind her, Beepaw, Juniperpaw, and Sleekpaw yowled in agreement.
Dawnpelt and Crowfrost stared at them in horror, as though they couldn’t believe that their own kits would turn on their Clan.
Rowanstar met Needlepaw’s gaze coolly. “You can live according to our rules.”
“Never.” Needlepaw lashed her tail. “I’m sick of living in a Clan that only cares about peace. The rogues would have made us strong. But, if you don’t want them to join us, I’m going to join them!”
Violetkit flinched. What?
Around her, pelts spiked.
“Traitor!” Crowfrost glared at Needlepaw.
Tawnypelt seemed frozen with shock. “Have you gone crazy?” Her mew faltered as she spoke.
Stonewing and Ratscar flattened their ears. Snowbird and Dawnpelt exchanged looks, their eyes wide.
Violetkit swallowed back alarm. Surely Needlepaw didn’t mean it? She watched in disbelief as Needlepaw marched toward the entrance.
“I’m going with her,” Juniperpaw growled. “Nobody’s going to tell me what prey I can eat ever again.”
“I’m going too!” Sleekpaw turned and padded after Needlepaw.
As murmurs of disbelief rippled around the Clan, Rowanstar stared after the apprentices, astonishment flashing in his wide amber gaze. “If you leave the Clan, you become our enemy!” he yowled.
Violetkit stared as Needlepaw padded past her. “Don’t go!” Her heart twisted with grief. Needlepaw was her only friend in the Clan. And yet she’d said that Violetkit was just another mouth to feed. Was I wrong to trust her?
Needlepaw paused and met Violetkit’s gaze. “You’re coming with me.”
“I am?” Shock flashed through Violetkit. She felt limp with relief. She is my friend!
“You’re not staying here with these kittypets.” Needlepaw whisked Violetkit forward with her tail. She glanced back at Rowanstar. “I’m taking the kit because I found her.”
“You can’t!” Leafpool hurried forward. “She b
elongs to the Clans. StarClan needs her to be here.”
“I found her,” Needlepaw repeated. “If she’s special, she can be special anywhere.”
Rowanstar flicked his tail angrily. “Take her!” he called to Needlepaw. “You did ShadowClan no favors by finding her. There’s been nothing but trouble since she arrived. We’re better off without her. And without you!”
Violetkit felt numb. She stumbled after Needlepaw, Sleekpaw and Juniperpaw flanking her. Her thoughts whirled. Was it true? Had she brought only trouble to ShadowClan? Overwhelmed, she followed Needlepaw through the entrance tunnel. As it closed around her, she glanced back and saw the familiar dens. She was leaving another home. Was she making the right choice?
Her eye caught Rowanstar’s. His gaze was as hard as ice.
It’s not a choice. Despair washed through her pelt. I’m not wanted here. I never truly was.
CHAPTER 11
Overhead, the full moon lit a crow-black sky. In the chilly island clearing, Alderpaw fidgeted beside Jayfeather.
“Can’t you sit still?” Jayfeather grunted.
It was the Gathering. Cats milled in the clearing in front of them, their pelts shining in the moonlight. Bramblestar padded between them, greeting old allies. Onestar was already sitting in the great oak, staring at the Clan cats through narrowed eyes.
Mistystar chatted with the deputies lined up at the foot of the tree. She purred as Squirrelflight nodded toward a group of apprentices, happily showing off battle moves to one another at the edge of the clearing. Alderpaw wished he were with them, sharing Clan gossip. Did he have to sit here, being solemn and serious with Kestrelflight, Mothwing, and Willowshine, just because he was a medicine-cat apprentice? If he was going to be an apprentice longer than any other cat, couldn’t he at least have fun?
He glanced at Sparkpelt. It was her first Gathering as a warrior, and she sat beside Cherryfall, her chest puffed out proudly. Her green eyes sparkled as she gazed at the other cats. Bramblestar padded to her side and touched his muzzle fondly to her head. Alderpaw ignored the prickle of envy in his pelt. He was proud of Sparkpelt too.