Darkpaw awoke the next morning still feeling exhausted. And, she realized as she stood, she was soaking wet. She shook herself and looked up to find the gray sky, instead of the usual covering of rock. Part of the den had collapsed.
Darkpaw hurried into the clearing and to Lightpaw's den. Her sister was curled up outside on a tiny scrap of moss. "Lightpaw?" Darkpaw mewed, nudging her lightly. Her sister sprang up and gazed around wildly before recognizing Darkpaw.
"Sorry," she mewed tiredly. "I was up all night. If you want to see Sagefrost, go in. He was awake a little while ago." Darkpaw touched her nose to her sister's flank.
"Go sleep in my den," she urged. "Just for now. It's open, but it has more moss and cover then this little patch." Lightpaw blinked gratefully. Darkpaw watched her sister hurry into the apprentice den before entering the medicine cats' den. It had survived the earth-shaker with more resilience then the rest of the camp, though the place where Lightpaw usually slept was covered in debris. Further on, Darkpaw spotted the pale gray coat of Sagefrost. His head was up
Bluepaw was with him, talking to the injured warrior. Bluepaw glanced up at Darkpaw as she entered.
"Hi Sagefrost," Darkpaw mewed. "How are you?"
"Fine," Sagefrost mewed. "I don't see what the big fuss is about. I can't feel any pain." Darkpaw's breath caught at Sagefrost's words. His mutilated legs stuck out behind him in an awkward position. Was it possible the warrior couldn't feel his injured hindquarters?
Darkpaw looked over at Bluepaw, who nodded very slightly. Darkpaw let Bluepaw dictate the conversation after that, doing their best to keep Sagefrost's spirits up. They left soon after to receive instructions, and Sagefrost curled up to sleep.
"He really can't feel anything?" Darkpaw mewed as they neared Cherrytail.
Bluepaw shook her head sadly. "No, he can't. Echosong's hoping that she can get the feeling to come back to his legs, but she doesn't think she'll be able to. I don't know what I'm going to do!" Bluepaw's voice rose hysterically. "I'm terrified to let him see his legs, because once he does he's going to realize everything."
Darkpaw pressed her muzzle into her friend's side. "And the worst part is," Bluepaw murmured, "is that he was crippled saving me."
"You really like him, don't you?" Darkpaw murmured.
"No," Bluepaw whispered. "I love him."
Clovertail nodded to the two apprentices. "Can you two take Swiftpaw and go hunting? He's been working on the warrior's den for a while, but he needs a break from pushing stones."
Darkpaw and Bluepaw went to fetch their friend and they headed out of camp. As Bluepaw chased a rabbit through the forest, Swiftpaw set down his prey and murmured, "I wonder what happens now?"
Darkpaw's heart lurched. "What do you mean?" she demanded. "We rebuild the camp, of course."
Swiftpaw shook his head. "Is this place safe to live in any more?" he wondered out loud. "What if the earth-shaker comes again? We could all die next time."
"What are you saying?" Darkpaw demanded. "Do you think we should leave?"
"I don't know. Maybe – yes. We can't have more cats getting injured," he mewed, casting a sad glance back at the camp.
"No!" Darkpaw meowed, her voice ringing. "We can't leave. This has been our home for too long."
"Too many cats were hurt, Darkpaw," Swiftpaw mewed. "You've lived in the gorge your whole life, but I haven't. It isn't so hard for me to leave. All of you have spoken of the forest where Firestar came from. It would be so much easier to live in then this gorge."
Darkpaw spat. "Warriors get hurt," she retorted. "That's the way it is."
"But you were hurt too," Swiftpaw murmured. He bent down to nose Darkpaw's leg, and she looked into his eyes. They were tender, full of love, and Darkpaw found herself shaking.
"Swiftpaw, I – " Darkpaw was cut off by a loud yowl. Bluepaw was racing towards them, her eyes wide.
"I scented cats!" she panted, skidding to a halt in front of them.
"Rogues," Darkpaw meowed dismissively. Swiftpaw nodded in agreement.
"No, there were too many to be rogues!" Bluepaw mewed excitedly. "It was all the same scent."
Swiftpaw and Darkpaw glanced at each other. "We should check it out," Darkpaw mewed, stepping forward.
"Without a warrior?" Swiftpaw asked. Darkpaw hesitated. To fetch a warrior would be wasting time; and many were busy, or wounded.
"Yes. We have to go now. Bluepaw is almost a warrior, and you and I are good fighters. We can handle any mange-ridden fleabags."
Swiftpaw nodded and both apprentices followed Bluepaw as she harrowed into the forest. Swiftpaw sprang into a tree and snatched a pigeon from a branch as they raced past, catching up with the two she-cats after burying it.
"Nice catch," Darkpaw panted. Finally Bluepaw halted far upstream. They were very close to the end of SkyClan's territory.
Darkpaw brushed against a fern, fortifying it with SkyClan scent. The three apprentices stalked forward cautiously, scenting the air with every step. Darkpaw soon began to smell what Bluepaw had. It was the stale reek of many cats, yet it all blended into one distinguishing scent.
"It's an entire Clan," Darkpaw breathed in amazement. Then her pelt prickled with alarm. Obviously, these cats numbered many, and they were three half-trained apprentices.
Swiftpaw shared her alarm. "Let's go," he muttered. The three apprentices slunk swiftly away. Darkpaw's heart beat fast as they raced through the woods, back into the heart of their territory. It felt as though the trees had grown eyes. Darkpaw had the prickling sensation of being watched. However, the three cats made it back to their prey stocks without incident. Swiftpaw dug up his prey and then spat.
"Mouse dung! I forgot that pigeon! I'll have to go back for it tomorrow." Darkpaw and Bluepaw purred in amusement as they began carrying their prey back to the Clan.
When they arrived in camp though, Darkpaw knew that one of them had to report the scent of so many cats so close to their territory. "Come on," she mewed resignedly to Bluepaw and Swiftpaw. They hurried after her to Leafstar's den. Much to Darkpaw's relief, Leafstar was inside. The SkyClan leader had been so busy the past few days, it seemed as though she never slept.
"Darkpaw, Bluepaw, Swiftpaw? What can I do for you?" Darkpaw noticed with a prickle of guilt that Leafstar had been eating.
"Sorry Leafstar, we didn't mean to interrupt you meal. But we scented many cats in the forest upstream, and thought you should know."
Leafstar listened intently as Darkpaw explained. "This is a problem," she mewed. "And so soon after the earth-shaker too; we're not back to full strength yet."
"I think you should speed up the apprentice's training." The three apprentices spun to see Sharpclaw sitting in the den entrance. He padded forward. "Sorry, but I couldn't help overhearing."
Leafstar nodded. "I happen to agree, Sharpclaw. Especially if we must fight cats, we need more warriors. But with rebuilding the camp right now, no cat has time to take the apprentices out, and we need them for hunting patrols as it is."
"I have a moment right now," Sharpclaw mewed, glancing at Leafstar. "I can take them out for some battle training at least. And then they can start fixing up the dens again."
Leafstar nodded, and then glanced at Bluepaw. "Bluepaw, I'm sorry. I know you want to spend time with Sagefrost, but we really can't spare you right now."
Bluepaw bowed her head. "It's fine, Leafstar. If I won't get under her paws, I'll just sleep in Echosong's den tonight."
Leafstar sighed. "We'll need to find a place in the Clan for Sagefrost soon. I don't think he'll ever be able to hunt or patrol on his own again."
"He'll be lonely in the elder's den, by himself," Sharpclaw meowed.
Leafstar nodded. "But we can't let him stay in Echosong's den until a few cats go to join the elders. We'll worry about it later," Leafstar commanded, shaking herself suddenly. "We have to get back to work."
"Shouldn't you be resting, Leafstar?" Darkpaw mewed anxiously. "You just lost a life, and you've been working hard." Darkpaw's concern was driven by her leader's weary movements, and her matted coat, suggesting that she had been too tired to care for it recently.
"I'll rest when I'm dead," Leafstar retorted. "The whole point of nine lives is so that I can return to fight for my Clan harder then ever."
Darkpaw bowed her head and allowed her leader to usher them outside. Sharpclaw swung into the lead then, bounding gracefully over the stones towards the training area. Darkpaw followed, amazed at how easy springing from rock to rock had become.
They had just gotten to the training hollow when Darkpaw noticed the moon rising in the sky. It was full, and yet no mention of a Gathering had been heard. Sharpclaw noticed her looking.
"StarClan will forgive us just this once, for missing the Gathering. There's too much to do." Darkpaw nodded in agreement.
Sharpclaw set Darkpaw and Bluepaw to learning partner fighting – matching each other, pawstep for pawstep, in their fighting techniques, while he worked with Swiftpaw. It was nearly morning by the time the three apprentices stumbled home and curled up to sleep.
The next morning Leafstar called a meeting. Darkpaw slid out of her den, blinking in the bright sunlight. Swiftpaw slid out behind her, while Bluepaw joined them from the medicine cats' den.
"Cats of SkyClan," Leafstar meowed when all the cats had assembled. "You all know that the earth-shaker hit a few days ago. Since then, we have done a good job with rebuilding the camp and finding fresh-kill for ourselves. The Clan gives thanks to Echosong and Lightpaw, who cared for so many of our cats." Lightpaw sat up straight as the Clan called their names, and Darkpaw felt a rush of pride for her sister.
Leafstar continued. "We were very lucky that no cats died. We must thank StarClan for watching over us." The gathered cats mewed in agreement. "However, we now face a new threat. Yesterday, Darkpaw, Bluepaw, and Swiftpaw reported to me that they had scented strangers on our lands. When they went to investigate, they found the scent of not one or two rogues, but of many cats – enough cats for a Clan."
Dismayed wails broke out. Patchfoot arched his back, spitting defiance, while Cherrytail wrapped her tail protectively around her three kits.
"The only thing we can do right now is speed up the training of our apprentices. Bluepaw is nearly ready to become a warrior, and though Darkpaw and Swiftpaw just started their training, it will need to be fast; we desperately need the apprentices to take on full warrior duties. Tonight, I will travel to the Skyrock and sleep there, and beg StarClan for guidance. Sharpclaw, that means you're in charge of camp," the dappled she-cat mewed, turning to her deputy. Sharpclaw nodded.
"Now, I wish to make a new warrior for the first time in a long time. Bluepaw," Leafstar mewed, beckoning for the gray-blue apprentice. Bluepaw gasped in amazement and dashed towards the Rockpile.
"Congratulations," Darkpaw mewed as her friend passed. Swiftpaw pressed his nose against her fur.
"Sharpclaw," Leafstar mewed. "Has your apprentice learned the ways of the warrior well?"
"She has, Leafstar," Sharpclaw meowed, his eyes shining. Darkpaw reflected that Sharpclaw was getting old; this could be his last apprentice. He touched noses with Bluepaw and sent her to stand before Leafstar.
Leafstar raised her eyes to where Silverpelt would be at night. "I, Leafstar, leader of SkyClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of you noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn. Bluepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
Bluepaw's voice was certain and unwavering as she meowed, "I do."
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Bluepaw, from this moment on you will be known as Blueshadow. StarClan honors your forethought and loyalty, and we welcome you as a full warrior of SkyClan."
"Blueshadow! Blueshadow!" Darkpaw cried. The rest of the Clan took up the chant as Blueshadow knelt and licked Leafstar's shoulder. Leafstar rested her muzzle on Blueshadow's head for a moment. The Clan swarmed around Blueshadow, pressing against her and yowling her new name.
"Tonight, Blueshadow will sit silent vigil will I climb to the Skyrock," Leafstar announced, before bounding down from the Rockpile.
"Come on," Blueshadow mewed, dashing over to Darkpaw and Swiftpaw. "I want to tell Sagefrost."
They all hurried into the medicine cats' den. Sagefrost was awake, his eyes shining. "Blueshadow," he purred, passing his tongue over Blueshadow's face. Blueshadow purred, pressing against him. Sagefrost heaved, pushing Blueshadow away suddenly. His eyes tightened and his forepaws strained.
Darkpaw realized with horror that Sagefrost was trying to stand. But Blueshadow watched him, her eyes shadowed with pain, without trying to help. Trusting the blue-gray she-cat to know what was best for her mate, Darkpaw sat back.
After a few moments of struggle, Sagefrost slumped down in the moss again. "I knew it," he panted. "My back legs are ruined. I'm totally worthless. I'm sorry, Blueshadow." His eyes dimmed and he seemed to deflate. All the things he had said to Blueshadow and every other cat about not feeling any pain must have been a lie. His attempt at bravado had been for Blueshadow alone.
Blueshadow covered her mate's face in licks, purring hoarsely. "You'll never be useless," she meowed. Darkpaw felt her ears grow hot as she listened to her friend fawn over her mate, reassuring him.
"Unfortunately," Blueshadow meowed, "Leafstar won't be getting the warrior she was hoping for when she gave me my name."
Darkpaw froze in surprise. What did Blueshadow mean? Was she running away from the Clan? She had been a kittypet once, but surely she wouldn't leave now? Sagefrost's eyes widened. "You – I…" he gasped weakly. Whatever was happening, her mate had a faint idea of it. Sagefrost continued to stare at his mate, and Darkpaw turned to her friend as well.
Blueshadow purred. "Sagefrost, I'm going to have your kits," she announced. Darkpaw felt her mouth open in shock. She couldn't even imagine Blueshadow as Sagefrost's mate, let alone the mother of his kits.
Sagefrost began purring roughly. Darkpaw saw his eyes brighten again. Blueshadow had obviously been saving the announcement for when Sagefrost discovered he was forever crippled. She knew it would cheer him up. Darkpaw was filled with admiration for the she-cat. Whatever happened, she would do what was best for her mate, badly injured though he was.
"I'd better go," Darkpaw meowed quickly. Swiftpaw said his own goodbyes and followed her out, leaving the two cats alone.
"I can't believe Blueshadow is going to be a mother," he meowed.
Darkpaw nodded. "We're all growing up. Soon you and I will have our warrior ceremonies too." Swiftpaw nodded, his eyes gleaming in excitement.
"Come on," he mewed, nudging her. "I want to go get that pigeon I left behind yesterday. We shouldn't waste prey, and foxes will get it if I don't."
Darkpaw nodded and followed her friend out of camp. They soon came to the place where Swiftpaw had buried his prey, but there was nothing there.
"What?" he mewed in annoyance. "It hasn't been that long!" Swiftpaw hurried over and scrapped the earth away from the foot of another tree. He hissed in exasperation. "Foxes!" he spat.
Darkpaw padded over to her friend and leaned over his shoulder. Suddenly, she stiffened. Hidden among the thick odors of the forest was the scent of cat.
"Swiftpaw," she hissed. "Do you smell that?"
Swiftpaw looked at her quizzically, and then opened his mouth, scenting the air carefully. He froze. "Those cats from the other day," he mewed in a hushed voice. Darkpaw nodded. Her fur was bristling along her spine. The scent was fresh, despite being faint.
"We have to follow it," Swiftpaw meowed in a hushed voice. "We can't have them stealing our prey. If there is only a few of them, we'll chase them off of SkyClan's territory."
Darkpaw nodded in agreement and padded after her denmate as he put his nose to the ground, carefully following the scent. Darkpaw kept her paws light, as though stalking a mouse. Her heart was thumping with excitement. These cats wouldn't get away with stealing SkyClan's prey!
They traveled deeper into the forest when Swiftpaw's head lifted, his amber eyes snapping with anger. "The scent has disappeared," he mewed. Darkpaw opened her mouth, drawing air over her scent glands. She became rigid and felt her tail fluff up as fear made her heart pound.
"No," she breathed. A yowl cut her off. Dark shadows leapt down from the tree, claws glinting in the bright sunlight. Darkpaw yowled the alarm and slashed out with her claws, slicing the cat's nose closest to her.
She glanced around, looking for Swiftpaw. She spotted him quickly, wriggling under the mass of two she-cats. Darkpaw yowled and threw herself at them, fury pulsing through her. Not only had these cats dared to trespass on her Clan's territory, but they were hurting her friend. She landed two heavy blows, effectively dislodging Swiftpaw's attackers. The two she-cats turned on her; one was a ginger-and-black she-cat, and the other had a pure white pelt.
With a hiss, Darkpaw launched herself at the two she-cats, but they were easily able to dodge her attack, not burdened with holding down Swiftpaw any longer. Darkpaw was aware of Swiftpaw battling with a black tom and gray tabby. He seemed to be holding his own for the moment, but Darkpaw knew their screeches would soon bring the rest of their attacker's Clanmates. Darkpaw managed to land a heavy blow to the white she-cat, who reeled. Darkpaw tried to rake her claws across the other she-cat, but the ginger-and-white cat sliced Darkpaw's nose open. Darkpaw drew back with a startled hiss as blood welled. The white she-cat, recovered from the earlier attack, leaped on her, and Darkpaw went down underneath the combined weight or the two furious cats.
She yowled in agony as one sank its teeth into her shoulder. Darkpaw tried to struggle free, but the two she-cats wouldn't let her up. They mean to kill me, Darkpaw realized. Her vision swam, and she was about to black out when another yowl sounded from the SkyClan camp.
Darkpaw looked up hopefully, and was amazed at what she saw. Patchfoot, Clovertail, Rockfang, and Mintcloud were racing towards the struggling apprentices. They leaped on their attackers with snarls. The white she-cat was carried off her paws by Mintcloud and pinned to the ground. Darkpaw's mother snarled above the white she-cat, snapping her teeth dangerously close to her throat.
Patchfoot had jumped on Swiftpaw's assailants. The gray tabby was hurled up against a rock. Swiftpaw shook himself and bite down hard on the black tom's tail; he had turned to stare after his downed companion.
The black tom yowled in pain and tore his tail free. He crouched down by Swiftpaw, his yellow eyes piteous. "Stop!" he meowed. "Don't hurt Jadepaw anymore."
Swiftpaw pulled back, letting his upraised paw drop. Darkpaw noticed that Clovertail had cautiously allowed the ginger-and-white she-cat to stand, though she still stood over the injured enemy with her fangs bared. Mintcloud, however, despite Rockfang's prodding, would not let the white she-cat up.
"Mintcloud, they're done fighting, see? They know they're outnumbered." Mintcloud slowly sheathed her claws and allowed the white she-cat to stand.
"Make one move towards my daughter, and I'll flay you into stripes," Mintcloud snarled. The white she-car glared resentfully, but did not move other then to lick her back leg, which was bleeding sluggishly.
"I am Gingerpelt," the ginger-and-black she-cat mewed finally. "My companion is Flowerheart." Gingerpelt gestured towards the white she-cat. "The gray tabby is Jadepaw, student of Wolfclaw, and Ravenpaw, student of Greenear. We are from EarthClan."
Darkpaw gaped at them. Flowerheart rose to her paws, wincing as she put weight on her gash. Abruptly her leg buckled, and she collapsed. Flowerheart moaned. "All this for a bit of prey! Gingerpelt, I told you we could have caught some away from these cats' territory."
Ravenpaw turned to Swiftpaw, pleading in his eyes. "Let me go to her," he begged. Swiftpaw nodded and watched carefully as Ravenpaw dashed across to the downed she-cat.
"How does it look, Ravenpaw?" Gingerpelt called anxiously.
"Bad. The wound's not big, but it's very deep." He glanced at Gingerpelt, half-hidden by the bushes. "We need to take her to Waterfern."
Darkpaw guessed Waterfern was their medicine cat. But she hoped Clovertail and Patchfoot wouldn't let them off so easily.
Clovertail was shifting from paw to paw. "It's not that simple," she meowed. "I'm sorry you were injured, but you still strayed onto SkyClan's land and attacked our apprentices without provocation. We'll have to take you to Leafstar."
"Fine!" The gray tabby spoke up for the first time. Her blue eyes flashed. "Hurry up and get us there, crow-food eaters."
Darkpaw bristled at the she-cat's arrogant tone. "Listen to me, you prissy little excuse for foxdung," she began, arching her back and spitting. Before she could go on, her father slapped his tail over her mouth.
"Quiet," he ordered. "We will assist Flowerheart back to camp and let Leafstar decide what to do."
Clovertail nodded and beckoned to Swiftpaw. "You're fastest," she mewed. "Run back to camp and warn Leafstar. Have her send Lightpaw, if she can." Swiftpaw nodded and shot off.
Clovertail stepped over to Flowerheart and tried to help her up, but the white she-cat hissed and backed away. "I'll help her," an insolent voice meowed. Jadepaw padded over and helped her Clanmate stand.
The SkyClan warriors formed a tight circle around the prisoners and herded them away. Mintcloud dropped behind with Darkpaw.
"Were you wounded?" she mewed anxiously, nosing her daughter all over. Darkpaw wanted to squirm away, but it felt nice to be treated like a kit again.
"No. My leg is a little stiff, but I'll be fine." Darkpaw nuzzled her mother. "Thank StarClan you came when you did," she meowed to her mother as they continued on. "Swiftpaw and I could have fought them off eventually, but…"
Mintcloud purred in amusement. "You could not have! Not yet, anyway. No, what I'm worried about," she whispered, dropping her voice so only Darkpaw could hear, "is that we're escorting these cats to our camp, and it's totally devastated. If their Clan decided to launch an attack, well, we're fairly defenseless."
Darkpaw knew what her mother meant; with Cherrytail and Blueshadow in the nursery, Sagefrost crippled, and Leafstar and Sharpclaw getting old, along with Patchfoot, a senior warrior, their fighting strength was cut in half.
"I don't know what to think," Mintcloud continued. Her voice was fretful. "I worry about you and Swiftpaw, but sometimes I think Leafstar should make you warriors as quickly as possible. We're all exhausted with the patrols."
"Has Blueshadow told Leafstar about moving to the nursery yet?" Darkpaw mewed quietly, glancing up ahead at the EarthClan cats.
"Yes. Leafstar was angry that she lost a newly named warrior, but she likes seeing the Clan grow. I think she was planning to visit the rogues tomorrow to see if any more cats were interested in joining the Clan, but now with this mess she won't be able to."
They finally reached the camp entrance. Darkpaw hurried through to the clearing to find the entire Clan gathered, Leafstar and Sharpclaw at its head. They nodded to her and Darkpaw went to go sit at Tinyfern's side just as the prisoners were escorted through the entrance.
"Welcome EarthClan warriors, to SkyClan's camp. I wish I could say that this was a courteous visit, but we both know it is not. Would you like to explain to me why you trespassed on our borders, stole our prey, and attacked our apprentices?"
Jadepaw sneered, coming to stand before Leafstar. "Who are you, mange-pelt?" she demanded. "Can't you see Flowerheart is hurt? Save the formalities for later."
Leafstar's ears twitched. Around her, her Clan bristled and pure fury swept through the clearing. Sharpclaw shot a contemptuous glance at Gingerpelt. "I see apprentices are not taught respect in your Clan," he rasped.
Lightpaw hurried out of the medicine cats' den, brushing up against Darkpaw as she went. Darkpaw noticed her sister looked distracted as she dropped a bundle of herbs before Flowerheart's paws. "Teach your apprentice to respect my Clan leader," she demanded, her face clearing a bit. "Or I won't treat your wounds."
Flowerheart bowed her head. "I will, but Jadepaw is not my student." Flowerheart beckoned to the gray tabby with her tail, and Jadepaw subsided, stepping behind Gingerpelt again. Lightpaw bent and looked over Flowerheart's wound.
"Thank you for treating my friend," Gingerpelt mewed gratefully. "We're sorry we trespassed on your land. It was my idea to bring the apprentices over here. Prey looks better on your side of the border."
"You have the entire forest to hunt in," Leafstar meowed, flicking her tail. "Besides the rogues, of course."
"We will not cross your border again," Gingerpelt mewed, dipping her head. "Depending on the First Clan's movement, we will surely move on soon as well."
Leafstar's ears pricked. "First Clan? What is that?" The EarthClan cats gasped in shock.
"Have you no ancestors that you pray to and go to for guidance?" Jadepaw demanded to know. "Are you all just flea-bitten mouse-brains?"
Lightpaw, still crouched beside Flowerheart, looked up. "Our prayers go to StarClan, our warrior ancestors."
Jadepaw settled with discontented grumbling. Leafstar sighed. "Well, you EarthClan cats have presented a great problem to me. For the safety of my Clan, I can't let you go back to your leader and report what you have seen. Nor do we have the fresh-kill to keep you here."
"Send them towards the rats' den," Sharpclaw rasped. "They wouldn't last; they don't carry the scent of SkyClan, and the rats are hungry." A few yowls of agreement echoed his speech. Darkpaw's tail twitched; she had been near the rats' den, and it struck fear in her. She couldn't imagine these EarthClan cats going there no matter their crime.
Leafstar was bristling, glaring at her deputy. "Sharpclaw, you know I would never send cats to their deaths knowingly." The old she-cat sighed and seemed to deflate. "We have no choice but to keep them in camp. Perhaps their Clan will come for them."
"And you want this EarthClan barging into our camp, tracking their lost cats?" Cherrytail yowled from the nursery. Her tail wrapped around her kits.
"Would you rather have them all die?" Sparrowpelt demanded of his sister. "Show some sympathy. The Clan will protect your kits with their lives." Several of the warriors mewed agreement.
"All of the old warriors have faced the rats," Clovertail meowed gently. "Which of you would foist such a battle even on the most bitter of enemies?" The older warriors looked upset and Patchfoot nodded agreement at Clovertail's words.
Leafstar raised her tail for silence. "Despite the hunting implications, we will keep these cats here for now. They may rest in the elder's den, as it is unused."
"Should guards be set?" Sharpclaw wanted to know.
Leafstar hesitated, but Clovertail raised her head. "Leafstar, please agree to guards. It will set all of us at ease if we must keep enemies in our camp."
Leafstar dipped her head. "Your wisdom speaks true, Clovertail. Sharpclaw, when you arrange patrols please make it so that these cats have at least one guard all of the time."
Sharpclaw dipped his head. "I will take the first guard," he meowed, glancing over at Cherrytail. "Bouncefoot, you may take over for me after that."
Bouncefoot nodded. Sharpclaw swung around to face Tinyfern. "Pick some cats for a patrol and do a sweep of the territory. We don't need these cats sneaking up on us." Sharpclaw gestured to Patchfoot. "Round up some cats and take a hunting patrol. We need extra fresh-kill. Swiftpaw, I need you to clean out the nursery, and then Rockfang is going to take you to train. Okay, everyone go."
Sharpclaw rounded up the prisoners and hurried them to the elder's den while the meeting split up. Darkpaw was sorry to see them go. Jadepaw was an annoying furball, but Ravenpaw had seemed nice.
"Darkpaw?" Tinyfern called from across the clearing. Petalnose was sitting with her tail wrapped around her paws. "Border patrol," Tinyfern mewed briefly. They left camp, Patchfoot's patrol hard on their paws.
*
Lightpaw watched the prisoners being escorted to the elder's den before hurrying back to her mentor. Echosong was sitting in her den with Leafstar. Lightpaw jumped; she hadn't expected to find the elderly leader here. She started to back out with a hurried apology, but Echosong signaled for her to stay.
"Leafstar was telling me about her plans to go to the Skyrock tonight. She isn't sure if she can manage the climb alone."
"I can go with her," Lightpaw volunteered, her tail twitching. She wanted to speak to StarClan again, to find out more about the shaking earth. StarClan had known that the earth-shaker was coming. They had warned Lightpaw, and she had not warned her Clan. She felt responsible for Sagefrost's injuries.
But now she was also wondering about the appearance of EarthClan. It seemed too unlikely for both events to be unconnected. Gingerpelt had mentioned following where the First Clan went. Lightpaw wanted to know what the First Clan was.
"No, I need you to stay here and help me. With Flowerheart and Sagefrost both needing treatment, I can't spare you." Echosong glanced at the dejected apprentice. "I'm sorry, Lightpaw."
Lightpaw sighed. "No, it's fine Echosong. I know I'm needed here. So who are you taking?" she asked, turning to Leafstar.
"Well, Echosong and I were talking. And I have this nagging feeling that…that I should take your sister, Darkpaw."
Lightpaw felt a swooping sensation in her stomach. "Why?" she wondered. "Darkpaw isn't a medicine cat."
"No," Leafstar mewed in agreement. "But, there was one thing…" Leafstar's voice trailed off and glanced at her medicine cat. Echosong nodded encouragingly.
"It's time she knew. She'll take over my place soon enough." Lightpaw almost missed the implication that her mentor would die soon. She was too focused on Leafstar.
"On the day you and your sister were born then," Leafstar began, heaving a sigh, "Echosong told me to come to her den after the camp was asleep. I came, and she told me that StarClan had spoken to her." Leafstar broke off, looking fretful.
"StarClan told me that In the time when earth meets the sky, turn to darkness for leadership, for only darkness will know the way," Echosong explained.
"What does this have to do with my sister?" Lightpaw asked blankly.
"We don't know," Leafstar admitted. "Even after all these moons, we haven't figured it out. But I have a feeling that Darkpaw should accompany me tonight."
Lightpaw shrugged. "I'll be getting some sleep tonight, and she won't. I could care less." But, as Lightpaw padded over to the herb stores, she realized that she did feel a twinge of jealously. Why should Leafstar chose Darkpawto go to the Skyrock with her, when Darkpaw wasn't even a medicine cat apprentice? Just a dumb warrior apprentice.
Then Lightpaw's ears burned with shame. Darkpaw was her sister; she should be pleased that she was getting attention from their leader. Few enough cats had ever paid attention to the dark-furred apprentice during their time in the nursery. Lightpaw shook herself and gathered up borage, carrying it into the clearing where Blueshadow was sitting as the sun dipped below the horizon. She sat in the middle of the clearing, her head raised in repose, reflecting on her new warrior status.
Lightpaw felt another pang of envy. She herself would never sit the long warrior vigil; she had given up that life, and she didn't regret it. Still, she regretted the fact that she would never fight by her Clanmates' sides.
"Here," Lightpaw whispered, nosing the borage towards the blue-furred warrior. "Don't speak. This is borage to help your milk start to flow. Eat it."
Blueshadow dipped her head in silent thanks and licked up the borage, her nose wrinkling at the bad taste. Lightpaw almost purred in amusement. Warriors could face a badger and never flinch, but StarClan forbid they eat a nasty herb!
Lightpaw padded back to her den to find Leafstar gone. Echosong was waiting for her, her tail wrapped over her paws. "Leafstar's mind is made up. Tonight, Darkpaw will climb the Skyrock with her."
Lightpaw dipped her head. "May StarClan keep them safe," she murmured. Despite her earlier jealously, Lightpaw was worried about their elderly leader climbing the treacherous rock.
"Echosong, how many lives does Leafstar have left?" Lightpaw thought to ask suddenly. She had never considered her leader dying before; the brown-and-cream she-cat was as fixated in the gorge as the rocks themselves. But the rocks had been unstable of late; perhaps it was not unlikely that Leafstar would not live much longer. She was no longer the young cat she had once been.
"I do not tell you lightly," Echosong mewed, her voice grave. Her gaze bored into Lightpaw's. "This knowledge will be yours one day however, so I have no qualms in sharing it with you now. Leafstar has only two lives left."
A/N: Moving through this story rather quickly! (No, I like submitting it once it's all typed up, it's much easier!) Don't worry, I have the next book all ready to go (and after that, it's all downhill). Please stick with Darkpaw, she appreciates it (and so do I). Please read and review!