Alarmed murmuring spread through the cats in the clearing at the sight of Ravenpaw's and Sandpaw's wounds. They hadn't made it more than a few steps past the gorse tunnel before what seemed like the entire Clan swarmed around them.
Graystripe bounded over to the returning apprentices. "How'd you get those cuts?"
"Darkstripe," Sandpaw spat.
"Again?!" Cats were jostling around to see what had happened.
"Let them through," Whitestorm meowed, his voice authoritative. "Bluestar needs to be informed of this."
"That traitor needs to be chased off," Dustpelt growled, padding up. "I'll even lead the patrol!"
Whitestorm shook his head. "Wait. We don't have enough warriors to take a patrol now; Longtail's hunting party isn't back yet." Ravenpaw blinked. It was true; he hadn't noticed in the commotion, but most of the cats in the camp were elders and queens. Dustpelt, Whitestorm, and Graystripe were the only warriors present. Strangely, there was no sign of Tigerclaw; Ravenpaw figured his mentor must have gone hunting again. "Let them tell Bluestar; she will decide what to do."
Lashing his tail, Dustpelt gave Whitestorm a grudging nod. Ravenpaw scuffed his paws against the ground as Sandpaw nudged his side. "Come on," she meowed, pointing with her nose at Bluestar's den.
He flattened his ears as they made their way across the camp. Cats were still muttering in alarm, and Ravenpaw could see Frostfur and Speckletail peering into the forest as though they thought their former Clanmate would appear from the bushes. Graystripe meowed something to Patchpelt; the black-and-white tom answered him with a flick of his ear. Ravenpaw was still trailing behind Sandpaw when she padded up to meow into the entrance of their leader's den. "Bluestar?"
"Come in." At the sound of Bluestar's voice, Ravenpaw and Sandpaw slid into the den.
Bluestar's eyes swept over them, and Ravenpaw guessed she noticed their ruffled fur and the faint scent of blood. "What's going on?" Bluestar questioned them, her tail flicking.
"Darkstripe is still roaming about within ThunderClan territory, apparently," Sandpaw spat, sitting down. "He attacked us."
Bluestar jerked her head up in surprise. "Where did this happen?"
"Ravenpaw and I were hunting at Sunningrocks," Sandpaw explained, while Ravenpaw uncomfortably chose a spot next to her. "We had just split up to track separate scent trails when Darkstripe attacked me from out of nowhere." She lashed her tail, and Ravenpaw could hear a growl rise from deep in her throat. "Ravenpaw heard the fighting and ran back, and Darkstripe started clawing at both of us, and well, it must have been pretty loud because a RiverClan apprentice saw what was happening and swam across the river to help us. A whole RiverClan patrol showed up while the three of us were fighting Darkstripe." Sandpaw paused.
"Then what happened?" Bluestar meowed.
"He killed the RiverClan apprentice," Ravenpaw mewed dully. "He pushed her off the top of Sunningrocks." That could have been me, he realized with a shiver.
Bluestar's eyes widened. Then she shook her head, looking disgusted. "He has done so many terrible things. But to actually kill a cat..." Her eyes narrowed.
"The apprentice was the only one that even recognized him," Sandpaw added, sounding annoyed. "The other RiverClan cats would have attacked us if I hadn't pointed out that it was Darkstripe that killed her."
Bluestar frowned seriously. "What was their reaction when they found out?"
Sandpaw let out a low growl. "They still weren't happy with us. They accused ThunderClan of allowing Darkstripe to wander the territory, so naturally the blame is on us."
Bluestar flicked her tail. "Then it seems we may need new warriors much sooner than I thought," she mewed, sounding as though she was talking to herself. She turned back to the apprentices. "Thank you, both of you. Sandpaw you may go." Sandpaw dipped her head, eyeing Ravenpaw curiously as she left.
"Ravenpaw," Bluestar began. "Is there anything that happened between you and Darkstripe that would make him so hostile? Did he even know you were there before he attacked Sandpaw?"
Ravenpaw rapidly shook his head. This was the second time she had asked if he understood Darkstripe's motives, and he was struggling to determine how to respond. Should he even say anything at all? Bluestar raised an important point. The first two times Darkstripe had specifically went after him, but now it wasn't so clear. Perhaps he wanted revenge on all of ThunderClan.
Bluestar sighed. "It seems that Darkstripe did lose his mind in some way. I don't understand it, but some time in his last few moons with us, he lost his loyalty." She straightened up, returning to a brisk voice. "From now on you should always have at least two cats with you when you leave the camp." At Ravenpaw's alarmed look, she touched her tail to his flank. "Darkstripe has shown that he will not hesitate to attack multiple cats at once, and it appears that he may try to single you out."
Ravenpaw bristled, distressed. The fact that Bluestar was concerned enough for his safety to require yet another cat to accompany him outside of camp made a renewed sense of terror wash through his pelt. "For- for how long?"
"Until Darkstripe is gone. Don't worry, it won't be forever," she added at Ravenpaw's fearful look. "Just until we're certain we've driven him off for good."
Ravenpaw's tail twitched. He was unsure how to feel about this. On one paw, he had been looking forward to being able to hunt alone in the forest again. On the other, he was grateful that he would have to be with two warriors and not one; that way Tigerclaw couldn't take him out alone and quietly murder him.
Bluestar's eyes grew distant, as though she was remembering the time when Darkstripe had been a loyal member of ThunderClan. "We will stop him, Ravenpaw, even if I have to kill him myself."
Ravenpaw didn't know what to say to that. Eventually he settled on a nod.
"You may go," Bluestar meowed, and then turned to add: "Send Dustpelt and Graystripe to me. I wish to speak with them."
"Yes, Bluestar." Ravenpaw nodded again, and padded out of Bluestar's den. He wondered why Bluestar would want to meet with them again; surely Dustpelt and Graystripe had already given a full report of their journey to WindClan by now.
He caught sight of Dustpelt sitting by the warriors' den. "Dustpelt!" He hurried to meet his brother, but the brown tabby had already gotten up to walk away. "Wait-"
Ravenpaw frowned; Dustpelt apparently thought he was going to try to talk to him about Tigerclaw. Dustpelt ducked into the warriors' den, clearly still trying to avoid him.
Ravenpaw trotted to the den and poked his head inside. "Dustpelt-"
"Great StarClan, Ravenpaw!" Dustpelt burst out. "Will you just drop it already?!"
"Actually," Ravenpaw began with a lash of his tail, "I wasn't going to say anything about that. Bluestar wants to see you."
Dustpelt stared at him for a long moment, and then heaved himself to his paws with an irritable snort.
"And Graystripe as well," Ravenpaw added quickly before Dustpelt ran out of earshot. The tom flicked his ear in grudging acknowledgement as he brushed past.
Ravenpaw sighed. He was heading toward the apprentices' den when Sandpaw trotted up. "Yellowfang wants to see you."
Bristling, Ravenpaw felt his eyes widen. "Why?"
"She wants to see both of us, actually. To treat any injuries."
Ravenpaw shivered. With his mind so full of anxiety, he wasn't sure he could take it if Yellowfang started making sharp-tongued remarks, but blood was oozing between his toes, and his paw pads were sore from clawing so desperately at the rocks. He nodded his assent.
When they arrived Yellowfang was ready for them. "Sit here," she instructed. Ravenpaw prepared himself for the familiar insults she'd hurled at him during her early days in the Clan, but she didn't speak any further. Instead she began to sniff at Sandpaw's injuries, focusing on the deep cut in her side. Ravenpaw almost dozed off, but he was still too tense from nearly being killed to let his attention fade.
After chewing up an herb mixture, Yellowfang finally spoke. "This will sting." She applied the herbs to Sandpaw's cut, after a short while backed away. "You're free to go, but no patrolling for the rest of the day. Come back to get your wound checked tomorrow."
"Thanks, Yellowfang." Sandpaw left the den.
Yellowfang narrowed her eyes. "You." Ravenpaw tensed. "Where does it hurt the most?"
Ravenpaw blinked. "My- my forepaws I suppose. And I think my ear is torn."
Yellowfang padded up to examine his ear. Finally she answered him. "It's just a nick in your ear tip, not a full tear. Nothing my herbs can't help. Lift your paw up," she added, flicking her tail. Ravenpaw hesitantly complied. Yellowfang scowled. "Now, that needs to be cleaned first. Lick the grit out of your paws while I make the salve." She pushed the remaining herbs toward Ravenpaw, crouched down, and began to chew them into a pulp.
Ravenpaw cleaned his paw pads one by one, feeling a sharp sting every time he ran his tongue across his scraped pads. It was painful, and he knew it could have been so much worse, but he was still chilled to the bone when he thought about Darkstripe's attack. He wondered how Bluestar would respond; surely she would do more than increase patrols at this point, now that it was clear that Darkstripe might not be solely focused on Ravenpaw.
His paws were almost free of sand and grit when a shadow appeared across the opening of the medicine den. It was Tigerclaw; the dark tom looked furious as he strode into the den.
"What's taking so long with you?" Tigerclaw demanded, not to Yellowfang, but to Ravenpaw. He shoved his muzzle in Ravenpaw's face. "When are going to finish hunting? The elders need to eat."
Yellowfang pushed herself between them. "Now, Tigerclaw, leave my patient in peace. He can't hunt. No regular duties for the rest of the day; he'll worsen his injuries." Ravenpaw couldn't tell if Yellowfang really thought scraped paw pads were that bad of an injury or if she just disliked Tigerclaw.
Tigerclaw looked murderous; Ravenpaw reflected how different he looked from when he talked to ThunderClan's old medicine cat, Spottedleaf. "Well, how will the elders get fed then?"
Yellowfang's reply was sharp. "I don't know, maybe have some other cat bring them fresh-kill. I do believe there are several cats in this Clan who know how to hunt."
Tigerclaw stared at Yellowfang in disbelief, and for a moment Ravenpaw thought he was going to claw her. Then he turned to Ravenpaw. "You need to catch twice as much tomorrow to make up for today," Tigerclaw growled, before whipping around and disappearing out of the entrance.
Yellowfang went back to applying the poultice as though nothing had happened, but the air seemed to tingle in the wake of Tigerclaw's rage. "Those must be some intense training sessions," she meowed, dabbing the tip of Ravenpaw's ear with the herb mixture.
"It's not too bad," Ravenpaw lied automatically, shifting his paws. "Tigerclaw is just... a strict mentor."
Yellowfang gave him one of her long looks. "Take this and lick it onto your paw pads," she meowed. As Ravenpaw applied the herbs to his cracked paws, he could still feel Yellowfang's eyes boring into his fur. When he was done, Yellowfang got up to flick the herb mixture off her dark gray fur and then swept the unused herbs into a pile. "Take it easy for the night, and try not to walk too much. That salve will wear off if you start running across the territory."
"Yes, Yellowfang." Ravenpaw darted out of the medicine den before she could say anything else.
He padded over to rest by the tree stump. Sandpaw was there, resting on her side, and she looked at him curiously as he sat down. "Are you all right? Tigerclaw looked furious when he left."
It took a moment for Ravenpaw to realize what she said. "Oh yeah. I'm fine."
Sandpaw narrowed her pale green eyes. "Bluestar is going to send a patrol to find him," she meowed.
Ravenpaw followed her gaze to the Highrock. Bluestar was talking to Tigerclaw at its base. Most cats had returned from their patrols by now, and a crowd had formed in anticipation of an announcement.
Bluestar got up abruptly, and bunched her muscles to bound up the rock. Ravenpaw stumbled to a spot near the edge of the crowd as Bluestar leaped to the top of the Highrock and called out the summons for a Clan meeting.
With so many cats resting in the main clearing she didn't have to wait long to begin. "Most of you are probably aware that Darkstripe has attacked again," Bluestar meowed once the cats got settled. "This time, he ambushed Sandpaw and Ravenpaw near Sunningrocks. A RiverClan apprentice died coming to their aid." Confused murmurs spread through the camp.
"What was he even doing at Sunningrocks?" Mousefur exclaimed. Ravenpaw frowned. Darkstripe clearly wanted revenge on not just him, but all of ThunderClan; if that was his goal, surely it shouldn't have mattered where he attacked his former Clanmates. But why then, did he choose Sunningrocks? Why was he even there in the first place? Was he just randomly roaming his former Clan's territory? Ravenpaw shook his head to himself. Darkstripe had gone mad over being betrayed by Tigerclaw; there probably wasn't any rhyme or reason to what he was doing.
"I don't know," Bluestar answered honestly. "But because of Darkstripe's actions, we have no choice in the matter anymore. This is the second time in three days he has attacked a ThunderClan cat, and every one of you should remain alert. Remember, Darkstripe was a member of ThunderClan until recently, so he knows our border patrol routes; that is likely how he was able to cross our territory undetected. Starting today, patrols will be sent out to actively search for him, and we won't stop until we have driven him off our territory for good. Darkstripe has proven time and time again that he is willing to kill.
"The first patrol will be sent out tonight," Bluestar continued. "Tigerclaw, Longtail, Mousefur, Goldenflower, and Dustpelt, start your search at Sunningrocks. Track him as far as his trail leads. If any of you see him, and he refuses to leave our territory, you have my permission to kill him."
Tigerclaw nodded, and gathered the cats Bluestar had named. In a flash they had left. Ravenpaw realized that he was trembling, although he wasn't sure why. The danger was gone now, wasn't it? Then Ravenpaw realized he was kidding himself; Tigerclaw had certainly made his intentions clear even if the rest of the Clan didn't know what he'd done.
While Darkstripe was a crazed murderer, he was also the only cat who had ever spoken out against Tigerclaw. Ravenpaw was sure Tigerclaw wouldn't hesitate to kill the dark tom, solely because he was one of the few cats who knew of his treachery.
Later that evening, Graystripe stopped by his old spot by the apprentices' den. He flicked his ears at Ravenpaw. "Are you doing all right?"
Ravenpaw nodded, still numb. I should be getting used to almost getting murdered at this point, he thought wryly. Aloud he mewed: "I'm fine." But that was the furthest thing from the truth; he could feel his fear closing in on him again, like it had so many times after he'd witnessed Redtail's murder.
Graystripe narrowed his eyes. "If you're sure." He paused. "Want to share a squirrel?"
Looking over at the fresh-kill pile, Ravenpaw noticed that it was almost entirely filled, and on top were two squirrels. "Sure."
They headed over to the fresh-kill pile. "Longtail and Runningwind caught these," Graystripe explained, prodding the larger squirrel with his paw. Ravenpaw nodded, trying to feign interest. "They found a whole nest of them, apparently."
They picked up their meal and headed back to the apprentices' den, where Ravenpaw let Graystripe fill the void with conversation, mewing agreement occasionally. Had the patrol found Darkstripe yet? If only that RiverClan cat had tried to follow him for longer than a few moments, maybe Darkstripe would already have been caught.
When they had finished, Graystripe yawned and stretched. "Frostfur's oldest litter is being apprenticed tonight."
"Really?" Ravenpaw meowed, the news of new apprentices distracting him from his dark musings. "I thought they weren't six moons yet."
Graystripe shrugged. "They're only a few days off. Frostfur thinks they're getting too rowdy for the nursery."
That's probably true. Swinging his head around, Ravenpaw pricked his ears. Sure enough, loud high-pitched meows were emanating from the nursery. "Do you know who their mentors will-" His question died in his throat as the sound of paws thrumming against the ground echoed through the camp.
The patrol of ThunderClan cats had returned, and it was clear that they had been unsuccessful in its hunt for Darkstripe from their sullen faces and dragging tails. Ravenpaw wasn't sure what to feel. If they had captured Darkstripe and killed him, it would leave Ravenpaw as the sole survivor of Tigerclaw's treachery. At the same time, Darkstripe had tried to kill him, and Ravenpaw knew it was useless to hope for an ally in his would-be murderer.
Tigerclaw gave his report to Bluestar near the Highrock, while Ravenpaw made sure to keep his distance as he crept up to hear what was going on. Other cats were sliding up to listen as well.
"What happened?" Ravenpaw mewed quietly, padding up to the only cat he felt comfortable asking: Mousefur.
"Tracked him as far as the stream," Mousefur meowed.
"He was trying to throw us off by crossing it." Dustpelt's tail lashed. "I'd bet a couple of mouse tails that he walked along the shoreline so we couldn't scent him."
"Don't worry, we'll get him eventually," Mousefur reassured him.
Tigerclaw was still talking to Bluestar. "There was no use continuing at that point," he finished, growling.
"If he keeps trespassing so openly it's only a matter of time until we find him." Bluestar nodded her approval. "Don't be disheartened. We will try again for as long as it takes."
Grumbling, Dustpelt trotted away. Wondering what his brother thought of Darkstripe, Ravenpaw gritted his teeth. He considered if there was a reason to try to talk to Dustpelt about Tigerclaw or Darkstripe anymore; if being attacked by Darkstripe multiple times wasn't enough proof of Tigerclaw's deceit, Dustpelt might never be convinced.
