Chapter 19

Evening placed stars in the sky when Starlingthorn caught up with the traveling group. They were padding quietly along the Twoleg fences, clearly wary of the dogs – but at the head of the group were Fletch and Ashfur, both confidently leading the way.

Starlingthorn was glad that Ashfur was as far away from her as he was – but she wished he were even further away. Though the night was chokingly warm, Ashfur's words had chilled Starlingthorn to the bone… and she didn't think she could ever be warm again.

This is all so wrong, she thought. How did this happen? Why? If Hawkstar had planned this from the beginning, why not tell Starlingthorn? She frowned. We may be mates, but that doesn't mean Hawkstar trusts me with Clan business. I am still an outsider. Maybe it looked better to have Ashfur do it?

No matter how she tried reasoning it out in her mind, Starlingthorn couldn't make sense of it. Unless the Dark Forest was somehow involved, there was no way Ashfur or Hawkstar or anyone would think to bring back Fletch and the others. Starlingthorn had spoken little of her past – Squirrelflight was the only one who knew more than most – and even when it came to talking about Magpie and the barn, she'd been intentionally vague until now.

Starlingthorn kept herself near the back of the group. The elderly were clustered in the middle, along with a queen and her kits and some of the younger cats, while the older and more experiences ones were huddled along the outside. Speckle would bark orders as if she were Fletch or Ashfur herself, and when the others obeyed she would get a look of pride that made Starlingthorn feel ill.

She's just as bad, Starlingthorn thought grimly. I never thought Fletch would end up with a she-cat like that, but it's easy to love someone who makes themselves be everything you want. She swallowed. If he even loves her. For Speckle's sake, Starlingthorn hoped he did.

The entire group was clearly nervous – aside from Speckle barking orders or the occasional whimper from a kit, they were quiet along the fence. Starlingthorn scented the air – dog-scent was there, but stale; yet even that was clearly too fresh for these cats. Starlingthorn was sure the dogs were locked up, but just in case she kept her eyes peeled for their dark shapes beyond the fence.

It seemed like an eternity before they moved past the Twoleg farm – but as the moon rose, the fence was but a shadow behind them. The group began to move a little faster, and relief was echoed on every mew. No dogs had gotten near them, and Starlingthorn heard more than one voice praising Ashfur and the strangers for their help.

The dogs get tied up at night, you mouse-brains! Starlingthorn thought in frustration. That's the way it's been every night! She hated the ridiculous way these cats were fawning over Ashfur, as if he were some savior sent from above – but then, she recalled, that Jingo's group had dealt with much hardship in the past. Anyone with a little confidence must look like a savior. At least Jingo isn't as impressed.

It was moonhigh when Gull forced Fletch and Ashfur to stop. Fletch was clearly unhappy with the lack of progress – but Magpie could barely stand, and needed as much rest as he could get. For his father's sake, Fletch led the group just outside a little patch of woods, where they sheltered just within the bushes.

Starlingthorn frowned. These woods were the same ones that they'd gone through on the way here. TigerClan isn't that far away, really, she thought uneasily. I'll get my answers when we get back, I suppose – but do I really want them?

"Starling – are you just going to stand there like a duck an' stare, or are ya going to get some sleep?"

Gull's voice came from a clump of dry bracken, situated a little ways away from the main group. Lark and Owltail were there as well, and Magpie had been given a makeshift nest between them. Starlingthorn was the only cat to not have moved into the woods.

Swallowing, Starlingthorn joined her friends. Lark and Gull were settled together, tails twined, and both within a pawstep of Magpie. Owltail was a little further off, but clearly he didn't want to settle near the main group, either. Starlingthorn settled herself beside Magpie, pressing her fur against his. Magpie shivered, then sighed, and then slept.

"This is hard on him," Gull murmured shakily. Her eyes were full of concern. "Too hard." Lark pressed against Gull, making a soothing sound in her throat.

"I'm sorry we brought this on you," Starlingthorn sighed. "This wasn't what we'd intended at all."

"Owltail said as much," Lark agreed, nodding. "I don't know what's going on, Starling, but… we do need to find a different place, yeah? I just wish… I just wish Magpie would be able to see it, too."

Starlingthorn stared down at the cat who had been like a father to her. She wanted to tell Lark that Magpie would make it, that Mothwing and Willowshine would take care of him – but she knew deep down that she would be wrong. Magpie would not make it to TigerClan.

And it will be my fault.

Spottedpaw was doing her best to keep her paws from trembling. She followed Brightheart as close as she dared – they couldn't make this "patrol" look like anything but that. Cloudtail led the way, his white tail up and confident. Willowfoot seemed just as worried as Spottedpaw – her battle experience was little, but her eyes were hard with determination. The Clan needed water, and she would fight for it.

So will I, Spottedpaw told herself as they padded through the ferns. TigerClan scent was strong here, along the border. Idly, Cloudtail paused to mark a stone with his scent – normal patrol procedure, nothing strange here… But this is terrifying all the same. How can I not be scared?

It was stiflingly warm, with no breeze to speak of. Sunhigh heat had the insects buzzing, and with little other noise in the woods it seemed like everything was building up to a great crescendo. Perhaps that was just Spottedpaw's imagination? She didn't know. If there were any other sounds, she couldn't hear them.

Cloudtail led the way along the border, around the bulge that contained the Twoleg clearing. There were no Twolegs there today in their pelts, but it looked like some had been there recently where the grass had been flattened. Spottedpaw had never seen the strange pelt-dens that Twolegs used in greenleaf, and she was thankful for that. It seemed like this greenleaf was too hot for even Twolegs.

They padded along the outskirts of the clearing, along their own border. Spottedpaw hated patrolling this way because of that clearing – it made the border bulge in a bad way, but on the other side of things the clearing was almost useless. Because of the Twolegs, there was hardly ever prey there, and TigerClan cats did not fare well hunting in the open – it certainly wasn't worth LionClan fighting over.

Cloudtail changed his path now, veering away from the clearing and out towards the very outskirts of LionClan's borders. What lay beyond the lake this way, Spottedpaw didn't know – she wasn't eager to find out, either. She hoped they wouldn't go too far out of their way.

A streak of color caught her eye, and glancing into her own territory she spotted the dappled pelt of Sorreltail. Just behind her trailed Lionpaw and Honeypaw – the other half of the battle patrol was getting into position.

"Eyes forward, Spottedpaw," Brightheart mewed quietly. "We're still within sight of TigerClan."

Spottedpaw nodded and turned her eyes ahead. She knew there was a TigerClan patrol of some kind somewhere – her patrol had to do their best to make it seem like nothing strange was going on. Spottedpaw gave herself one quick glance, just to see that the other half of the patrol was gone before forging ahead beside her mentor.

Cloudtail led them down a Twolegpath, lined with hundreds of pieces of splintered wood. They did not tread on the trail, but they followed it until familiar scents were replaced with unfamiliar ones – and TigerClan, faintly amongst them.

The patrol stopped, hiding themselves inside some brambles. Beyond them was the water-thing – a strange pool of water, much smaller than the lake but bigger than any puddle Spottedpaw had seen, lay there in the ground. Occasionally, water spouted out from somewhere in the puddle and flowed dazzlingly into the water below.

"They've been here recently," Cloudtail grumbled. He opened his jaws, and then confirmed, "It doesn't seem like there's anyone else nearby. Let's do this."

Eager to be done, Cloudtail and the others got to their paws quickly. The white warrior led the way deliberately around the clearing, and each cat marked a wide range around the water until they came back around to where they'd began. The area now reeked of LionClan, and Spottedpaw knew it wouldn't be long until some TigerClan cat smelled it.

Cloudtail observed their work, then grunted and nodded, "Now we wait."

Spottedpaw dug her claws into the earth. Did they have to wait? Not only were they poking TigerClan, but they were on a clearly-marked Twoleg track! What if a Twoleg came by and saw them? Even though they were well-hidden, they wouldn't be for long. If a Twoleg came across the fighting, what would happen?

Brightheart leaned down and mewed quietly, "When TigerClan comes and attacks, remember what you need to do."

Spottedpaw nodded. Go and fetch Bramblestar. Those were her orders. When TigerClan attacked and the patrol needed reinforcements, Spottedpaw would go and fetch them – but they would come much sooner than TigerClan would have ever anticipated.

"How long do you think this will take?" Willowfoot wondered. "Their territory is just as big as ours – there could be no one in this part of the woods."

"TigerClan needs to eat," Cloudtail told her, keeping his voice low, "just as much as we do. With no group in ShadowClan's old camp and the water right here, no doubt we'll see some patrol soon."

Spottedpaw took a deep breath. The logic was as sound as it could be. Yet she wished she knew when it was all going to happen – she'd seen visions of the ambush in LionClan's own camp almost the night before it occurred, yet she saw nothing of this fight. No echoes flitted about on the trail, and no dreams of fighting cats. She worked the earth with her claws. Spottedpaw did not like not knowing.

Yet it seemed as if they didn't have to wait long – it was faint, but Spottedpaw saw an echo fade into the clearing. Just behind it, in the bushes on the other side, a cat followed. The tom stepped into his echo as if he couldn't see it – and Spottedpaw was sure he couldn't. More echoes – and cats – followed, until a full TigerClan patrol was in the clearing.

Spottedpaw did not recognize most of the cats, but she did recognize Rowanclaw when he raised his head in shock at the smell of LionClan. The ginger warrior curled his lip and growled, "What's the meaning of this?"

"That's our cue," Cloudtail murmured. He glanced at Spottedpaw and told her, "Remember what you need to do."

Spottedpaw nodded. Now her heart was pounding in her ears, as Cloudtail stepped confidently out onto the Twoleg track. Some of the TigerClan warriors dropped their dry moss in surprise as Cloudtail and the patrol appeared. Spottedpaw came last, but made sure that she was just as confident as the others – this battle was planned and prepared, and she knew in her gut that that was the sort of thing that won fights.

"LionClan," growled one of the warriors, a fierce she-cat.

"Get off of our territory," Cloudtail told them coldly.

"Your territory!" spat Rowanclaw. "This land belongs to TigerClan!"

"We scented no markers," Willowfoot pointed out idly. "And nowhere is it stated that we cannot expand our boundaries."

"Silence, kittypet," spat Rowanclaw. "This land belongs to TigerClan, and you will regret spreading your stink here."

Cloudtail lashed his tail, flattening his halved ear. "Bring it on," he sneered.

Rowanclaw let out a yowl of command, and suddenly TigerClan warriors were surging across the track, kicking up splinters of wood in their wake. The entire patrol braced themselves, and Spottedpaw unsheathed her claws as a wave of cats and echoes flooded over her.

"Keep low," commanded Bramblestar. "We don't want to spoil the attack."

Lionpaw crouched as low as he could, flattening his broad body against the earth. Breezepaw and Honeypaw did the same beside him. The warriors weren't as flattened as the apprentices, but none of the three wanted to be the ones who gave things away.

Bramblestar had led the group into a large clump of greenleaf-ripe ferns and brambles, downwind from the attack site. If Lionpaw lifted his head as high as it would go, he could see in the distance that the patrol had marked the new boundaries and were simply waiting for the inevitable.

Quivering, Lionpaw wondered how long it would take. A minute? Two? An hour? What if they were waiting all day?

"Stop squirming," hissed Honeypaw. "You're going to give us away!"

Lionpaw stilled himself. "Sorry," he muttered. "Just nervous."

"You're telling me," Breezepaw huffed. His tail was twisting to and fro, just above the ground, and his eyes were glittering with excitement. "I can't wait to get to the fight!"

Lionpaw nodded in agreement. He could feel the blood roaring in his ears, burning all the way down to his toes. He wanted nothing more than to leap out of the hiding spot and fall into a flurry of fighting cats. His claws itched.

"Couldn't we have just marked the boundary and waited things out, though?" Crowfeather, ahead of them, grunted. "They'd either accept it or fight us on it then."

"And leave things in their paws?" Graystripe grumbled back. "I don't know about you, Crowfeather, but I want TigerClan to get the point now, not play tit-for-tat on the border until they find some way of beating us back."

"Graystripe is right," Bramblestar meowed in agreement. "This time, we do the ambushing. A strong offensive now will scare them off for a while – which may be all we need before it rains again."

If Crowfeather was offended by his old friend's statement, he gave no indication. Crowfeather merely shrugged and hunched himself back down to wait. Whitetail, Sandstorm, and Sorreltail gave no indication of their opinion – they simply waited as well.

Lionpaw was just about to wonder again how long they'd have to wait when a yowl exploded in the air. He raised his head – Was that Spottedpaw? – before being shoved down by Breezepaw with an irritated hiss. Lionpaw kept himself low, cursing himself. He had almost given them away!

"Steady," Bramblestar warned. He was peering just over the leaves. "Rowanclaw's patrol has taken the bait. They're outnumbered – wait for Spottedpaw to retreat."

The patrol settled down, but kept their muscles taut. The instant Spottedpaw was sent out for reinforcements, the TigerClan patrol would think they were winning – but she wouldn't have to go far. Bramblestar's patrol was only a few lengths away, hidden by undergrowth and the lack of breeze.

The sounds of fighting were growing louder, more numerous. Lionpaw's ears twitched as he recognized the voices of the patrol, growling and snapping and yowling in anger as they fought. The TigerClan cats sounded just as vicious, and there were more of them than the LionClan patrol – as was intended.

Then, suddenly, Cloudtail's voice split the air: "Retreat!"

The entire backup patrol tensed. Bramblestar raised his tail – a signal to wait. They didn't want to blow their cover too soon. Lionpaw strained his ears as the undergrowth rustled and bustled before them. Was Spottedpaw being followed? Was she all right?

She has powers just like me, he told himself. She could see cat's moves before they made them! She'll be all right.

Spottedpaw burst from the undergrowth just around the patrol. Her sides were heaving, her eyes were wide, and a tiny bit of fur was stripped from her mottled flanks – but she was all right. She turned to Bramblestar and simply nodded.

Bramblestar twitched his tail, and the patrol got to their paws. Lionpaw's belly skimmed the earth as they stalked quickly through the undergrowth, dodging roots and bushes and other trip-ups before they exploded out onto the Twoleg path and into the open battle.

Lionpaw immediately slammed right into a TigerClan cat – young, from the feel of their muscles beneath their fur. Lionpaw dug his claws in deep, earning a screech. The two tussled, but the TigerClan cat's strikes only grew weaker, while Lionpaw was radiating strength. With one great swipe of his paw, Lionpaw sent his opponent away and spun on his paws, looking for another fight to help.

He rushed at Spottedpaw and Honeypaw, who were tussling with a TigerClan warrior twice their size. Spottedpaw was dodging every swipe, but hardly finding time to strike herself. Honeypaw was making up for it, nipping at the warrior's legs while Spottedpaw distracted them. Lionpaw shouldered his way into the fight and grasped the warrior's leg in his jaws, pulling him off the two she-cats.

Together, Honeypaw and Spottedpaw pounced. Their flashing claws and pinpoint strikes sent the TigerClan warrior running quickly, and the three apprentices lifted their heads with triumph. Lionpw did not revel in it long – his heart was pounding, the blood was rushing in his ears, and his claws burned to find another opponent.

The battle was thinning quickly around them. The sudden wave of reinforcements had happened much more quickly than TigerClan had expected, and they were being beaten back – but Rowanclaw and the others were clearly too proud to sound the full retreat.

In the middle of the tussling, Bramblestar and Rowanclaw were tangled together, a ball of claws and teeth. Rowanclaw was fighting his hardest, and so was Bramblestar – but Rowanclaw was holding his own, and Lionpaw didn't like that.

He flew across the battle, dodging tussling clumps of cats as he dashed. Bramblestar and Rowanclaw were struggling together just before him now, and Lionpaw reached in and grasped Rowanclaw by the back of the neck. Using all his strength, he dragged the dark ginger tom away from Bramblestar and scored his claws down his shoulder.

Rowanclaw hissed, snagging his claws in Lionpaw's thick fur – but with Lionpaw holding Rowanclaw down by the neck, there wasn't much the TigerClan deputy could do but lie there and struggle against Lionpaw's strikes.

Finally, Lionpaw was pushed away. Rowanclaw's back welled with blood from shoulders to haunches, but Lionpaw's claws sang to do more – to feel more. Bramblestar was pushing him away, though, forcing him back from the fight.

"That's enough," Bramblestar insisted. "That's enough!"

The haze lifted from Lionpaw's eyes, and suddenly a wave of tiredness crashed over him – not so forceful as it had before, during the ambush in the LionClan camp, but strong enough to make Lionpaw fall back onto his haunches with tiredness. The clearing was quiet around them, and most of the TigerClan cats were backed up on their side of the new border.

Rowanclaw pushed himself up, glaring at the LionClan cats. "We won't forget this," he hissed.

"I should hope you won't," Bramblestar declared. "This is LionClan land now."

Rowanclaw spat at Bramblestar's paws, but said nothing more. He and his patrol limped away into the woods without another word. Lionpaw watched them go through hazy, sleepy eyes. As the TigerClan cats left, the LionClan patrols threw their heads back and yowled victoriously – all but Lionpaw, who only wanted to sleep.

"He just needs rest," Robinpaw sighed.

"That can't be it!" Spottedpaw fretted. "Look at him! He's covered in blood!"

"Yes, but it's not his blood," Robinpaw hissed. He had felt his brother's pelt with paws and nose almost three times now – there were no visible wounds on Lionpaw's body, and the stench of blood reeking off of his pelt was not the smell of his own. "It's TigerClan blood. He just needs rest, Spottedpaw."

Spottedpaw let out a sigh, sitting down. Robinpaw frowned. The battle party had come back, roaring with their success – they had even brought moss with fresh drinking water, cool and clear, for the whole Clan. Another patrol was sent out immediately to re-mark the area and ensure TigerClan did not return – but the cats that had fought were being tended to.

There weren't too many injuries – and none were serious. Spottedpaw had a bad scratch along her haunch and Whitetail's tail had taken a nasty nip, but that seemed to be the worst of it. Leafpool and Kestrelpaw were tending to the others, allowing Robinpaw to pull his siblings away. Thankfully, Leafpool hadn't noticed all the blood on Lionpaw's pelt and paws. He was being allowed to sleep in the medicine cat's den for now – he'd barely been able to make it back, he'd been so tired.

Quietly, Robinpaw meowed, "It's his power. It makes him tired when he uses it."

"I know," Spottedpaw sighed. "Mine gives me headaches, sometimes."

Not this time, though, Robinpaw thought with a frown. And Lionpaw didn't pass out immediately like he had last time. You're both becoming accustomed to using these powers. Robinpaw wondered what his penalty would be – but how could he know that, when he didn't even know what his power was?

"He needs to be more careful," Robinpaw sighed. "We still don't know everything about this prophecy, or these powers."

"Tell that to him," Spottedpaw grunted. "He's as stubborn as an oak tree, with roots twice as thick!"

Robinpaw nodded in agreement. He sighed again. There was nothing he could do but keep telling Lionpaw to be careful – but whether or not their brother would heed the advice was unclear. Robinpaw nudged Spottedpaw.

"Get some fresh-kill and then some rest for yourself," he told her. "We'll talk about this in the morning."

Spottedpaw only licked his ear in reply, before padding away. Robinpaw sighed. He wished he could see the stars overhead, and the signs and answers that were probably hidden away in them.

Lionpaw was awoken by a prodding paw and a hiss: "Lionpaw, you oaf, get up!"

His eyes flashed open, and he gave a start. He was in the apprentice's den, in the full dark of night. Breezepaw was just barely visible before him, with one paw outstretched to prod again. Lionpaw barely recalled moving from the medicine cat's den to the apprentice's, but once the blood had been cleared from his paws after his initial nap, he'd been allowed to sleep where he liked.

"Breezepaw," he complained, "what is this? It's the middle of the night, and I'm -"

"Tired?" Breezepaw guessed. "Yeah, I know – but there's something I want you to see. Come on!"

Breezepaw didn't dare wait for Lionpaw long. The dark tom slipped out of the den like a shadow. Lionpaw got to his paws – stiff from the fighting – and followed, working his muscles out as he went.

Outside the den the moon shone down, waning from the full moon now. Breezepaw showed no signs of stealth as he padded across the camp, so Lionpaw followed similarly, but kept his body low just in case. Every time Lionpaw attempted to open his mouth to ask what was happening, it was promptly stuffed with Breezepaw's tail.

Finally, just around the elder's den, Breezepaw stopped. He turned to Lionpaw, his eyes glittering with seriousness. "Lionpaw," he breathed, "tell me now – do you think we should fight TigerClan, any way and any time we can?"

Lionpaw frowned. What kind of question was that? "Of course," he insisted. "What kind of question is -"

Again, Breezepaw cut him off. The black tom turned away and slipped into the shadow of the elders' den, kinking his tail for Lionpaw to follow. Even more confused, Lionpaw did.

Behind the elder's den was a large crack in the camp's walls, big enough for a cat to squeeze through. Breezepaw did so, and Lionpaw followed as well. The brief damp darkness reminded Lionpaw of the tunnels, where he and Heatherpaw had played before TigerClan had used them to ambush the camp. The crack opened up – just a little – into a space cool and large enough for a few cats to gather… and a few cats gathered there were.

Lionpaw's eyes widened. Dustpelt, Spiderleg, and Crowfeather were there. When Breezepaw joined them, all three inclined their heads. The way they stared at Lionpaw made him freeze nervously.

"It's all right," Breezepaw insisted. "He's with us."

Crowfeather nodded, but Dustpelt and Spiderleg still looked skeptical. Lionpaw did his best to sit down in the cramped space, huddling close to Breezepaw. How had they found this space, and what was it being used for? Why?

"What is all this?" Lionpaw wondered.

All the cats stared at him, their eyes like claws. Lionpaw frowned, a cold feeling creeping down his pelt. He kept the exit – that narrow crack that no cat could run through without getting stuck – in sight.

"We're having a meeting," Crowfeather said carefully, "about how best to defeat TigerClan."

Lionpaw frowned. "Here? In the dark?"

"It's best to keep some things secret," Spiderleg mewed tersely. He glared at Breezepaw. "Not every cat shares the same opinions, and not many would agree with ours."

"Defeating TigerClan is a good thing, though," Lionpaw offered. He didn't like this cold tenseness – it felt like the times Robinpaw stared at him without really staring at him. "Why wouldn't any cat want the war ended as quickly as possible?"

The three warriors glanced at one another. Then, at Breezepaw. Lionpaw shuffled his paws. Why all this secrecy? What in StarClan was happening? If they want to defeat TigerClan, why aren't they talking to Onestar or Bramblestar about their ideas?

"This war has changed the rules," Dustpelt meowed gruffly. "Rules I don't like changing, but some things must be changed in order for LionClan to survive this."

"Like, the warrior code?" Lionpaw breathed.

Dustpelt nodded.

"You want to change the warrior code?" Lionpaw gasped. His pelt bristled, and suddenly Dustpelt, Spiderleg, and even Crowfeather, his own father, loomed over him with hostility in their eyes. Lionpaw shrank – he could face TigerClan with no qualms, but his own Clanmates? What would he do if they attacked him?

"Lionpaw," Breezepaw chimed in, "we're only talking about changing a few parts of the code – not the important ones, the ones that should be more flexible in times like this. Isn't it unfair that TigerClan is free to kill whomever they want, but we're held back?"

Lionapw swallowed. He thought of all the faces he'd never see again, thanks to TigerClan. He nodded in agreement.

"It's just stuff like that," Breezepaw assured him. "When it's all over, things will go back to normal – but this war's dragged on since before you or I were born! It needs to end, and it won't end any faster if we're pandering to rules that shouldn't apply to this situation! Understand?"

Lionpaw frowned – but he nodded.

"Good!" Breezepaw nodded too. He turned to the warriors. "See? He's with us."

It took a moment of thought, but the hackles of the warriors fell. The three settled down and the talking resumed as if nothing had happened, but Dustpelt kept his boring, skeptical look on Lionpaw the entire time.