Chapter Thirty-six
Night had long since fallen when the DesertClan cats and their CallistoClan guides finally set out from the Moon Hollow. Before they left, Cometstar had announced Dustflame's decision to join CallistoClan, and though some of his former Clanmates now treated him as a traitor, others had congratulated him, happy that he was happy with Inkmoon. Dustflame himself seemed impervious to the hostile stares; he had yet to leave Inkmoon's side, and was still beside her as they set off across CallistoClan's northern border, his tail entwined with hers, and a wad of moss clamped in his jaws. Every one of the cats carried such burdens: Breezestar had told Cometstar that there was little moss or leaves for bedding.
The trip through the desert to the cliffs took less time than before, since Breezestar now knew where she was going, but still it was past moonhigh when they arrived at the dark opening that marked the entrance to the camp.
"It's up here," Breezestar mewed through her mouthful of moss. "Follow me, and watch the bends in the tunnel." With a flick of her tail, the young leader sprang agilely into the tunnel's mouth and headed off down it, following the scents of her warriors that still lingered from that morning. Behind her, the stone echoed with the sounds of pawsteps and excited mews, as one by one the DesertClan cats followed her into the dark.
At the end of the tunnel, Breezestar did not linger like before, but dropped down onto the sandy ground, taking in the sights of the chamber at night. The gray stone of the walls glowed silver in the moonlight, and stars glittered brightly in the sky above. Gasps filled the still air as Cometstar's warriors entered the chamber for the first time, catching their first glimpse of their new home.
"Breezestar, this place is magnificent!" Cometstar breathed beside her.
"Just wait until you see the dens. Here, come with me." Breezestar led Cometstar over to the first ledge on the left. He followed her inside gladly, stopping dead in the mouth of the den. Breezestar, too, stopped with a gasp. In the moonlight, the bits of quartz glowed like stars on earth, caught eternally in the stone. "I was thinking," she mewed after taking in the beautiful sight, "that this would make a nice leader's den. It's the smallest of the dens, perfect for one cat."
"It's beautiful." Cometstar murmured. "And it already feels like home." He turned to Breezestar, eyes glowing in the semi-light. "Show me the other dens," he breathed, quietly elated.
Breezestar nodded, knowing his excitement, and did just that. In the second den, they found Peachpaw and Heatwhisker already setting up the herbs and arranging nests around the small pool of water. Two elders were busily making the third den their own, coating the stone floor with a think bed of moss and leaves with the help of three young apprentices. The warriors seemed to have taken a liking to the fifth den, and the space beyond the sixth ledge, that was too small for a cat, was already full with the fresh kill they had brought from the forest.
The seventh den, the one Breezestar had thought would make an excellent nursery, was already transformed into just that: Lavendersky was helping Sandyfur get her kits settled comfortably in.
"Cometstar, isn't it wonderful?" the young queen asked her leader when he appeared around the bend in the tunnel. "It's a perfect nursery!"
"It is," he agreed. "This whole place is truly a gift from StarClan."
"Runningbrook is helping the apprentices set up next door, Breezestar." Lavendersky informed her leader. "And Dusktail and Oakpelt are helping the warriors make their den. Inkmoon and Dustflame are with Heatwhisker and Peachpaw, and I believe DesertClan's deputy Crowbeak is helping them."
"Okay, good. Is everyone here?"
Lavendersky nodded. "Yeah, Crowbeak took count- everyone's here."
"Well thanks, Lavendersky, for helping Sandyfur." Cometstar mewed to the young CallistoClan warrior. Turning to his own warrior, he asked, "Does Ariddawn know where you've set up the nursery?"
The yellow she-cat nodded. "He just left to find the warriors' den. Have you seen the first den, Cometstar? The one with all the crystals? It would be a perfect den for you."
"Breezestar showed it to me."
"And that boulder in the center of the clearing," she went on enthusiastically, "it's a perfect place for you to make announcements from. Like the Tree Stump back in the Oasis."
"Yes, and have you seen the medicine den? It has everything Heatwhisker could need!" As Breezestar listened to them talk, she felt the glow of happiness spread through her. She had helped bring DesertClan here. She and Peachpaw, and CallistoClan, and StarClan. They had all found DesertClan a home. Thank you, Moonfur, Breezestar thought silently. Thank you for giving Peachpaw the courage, and for sending her this dream.
٭ ٭ ٭
Breezestar spent the following two days laying borders and scouting DesertClan's new territory. Their land was about the same size as that of each of the other four Clans, stretching from FernClan's eastern border east to a ridge lined with boulders and stunted trees, and from the line created by FernClan's southern border in the south northward to the cliffs. The outcropping of boulders Breezestar now associated with her first glimpse of DesertClan rested on their southern border.
Overall, DesertClan's new territory provided most necessities. There was a stream ending in a small pond shaded by some shrubs, and even trees and a patch of cornfield in the stretch of territory bordering FernClan land, where some herbs could be found. Plenty of prey of the type the DesertClan cats were most used to hunting also roamed their new territory, even in the midst of the dry, hot Greenleaf.
However, the new land also had its downside: only the most drought-tolerant herbs grew within DesertClan's new borders, so Shadypelt would have to hold to her promise of delivering herbs each moon.
By the morning of their third day with DesertClan, Cometstar's warriors were pretty well settled in, and Breezestar and her Clanmates were eager to be getting home. So, with a word of farewell, and a promise to meet again at the next Gathering, Breezestar, Peachpaw, Dusktail, Lavendersky, Oakpelt, Inkmoon, and Dustflame set off for CallistoClan territory.
Stepping out of the dry desert-like sand and into the shade of Greenleaf trees, Breezestar heaved a long sigh, taking in the scents of the forest and the sounds of the wind in the trees- sounds she had missed while with DesertClan. She hadn't been comfortable out in the open, like they were, and it felt good to be back home with the grass underpaw and the ferns and brambles all around, catching at her fur and tugging at it lightly.
Her arrival back at camp was met with cheers by the cats in the clearing, and Breezestar, tail and head high, bounded to the top of Tallrock and called out, "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Tallrock for a Clan meeting!" Oh, how good it felt to be home, in her own camp, with her own Clanmates all around! "I've called you all together to let you know that DesertClan has successfully settled in the eastern lands. It seems that the land we once thought to be bare and void of prey is actually full of life and perfect for our desert friends. Cometstar has set up his borders- his territory is no bigger than our own, and his Clan will live independent of the other Clans, just as we do, with the exception of this: Shadypelt has agreed to bring Heatwhisker herbs each moon, since the one thing DesertClan's new territory does not have is an ample supply of herbs.
"That settled," she went on slowly, "I have one more announcement I must make. Cometstar and I have agreed to allow Dustflame to leave DesertClan and join CallistoClan. But before you all argue," Breezestar went on hastily, for many looked as though they planned to do just that, "Let me say that in the end, the decision was mine and mine alone, and I chose to allow it, my reason being that if Dustflame and Inkmoon love each other so much that they were willing to leave their own Clans in order to be together, then I would rather allow Dustflame to join our Clan than chase Inkmoon away.
"Now I know it is unusual to allow something like this, but in the warrior code it is not forbidden. And on top of that, these were not usual circumstances. DesertClan lived with us for half a moon- there was time to make friends, to grow close with one another. I know each of you at least made one friend in DesertClan. So before you judge Dustflame too harshly, look at how much he cares about Inkmoon, how happy they are together, and think: what if the cat you love most had been in another Clan? Wouldn't you still want to be with them? This was one instance in which it could be allowed, and it has been. Dustflame has sworn his loyalty to CallistoClan." Breezestar paused, wondering if there was some sort of formal ceremony she should perform before StarClan, like a modified warrior ceremony. She had never seen anything to prepare her for this, or heard of such a ceremony, and yet it seemed there should be one. After a moment's hesitation, she opened her mouth to speak, and the words came to her, as if whispered in her ear by a StarClan warrior.
"I, Breezestar, leader of CallistoClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this warrior. He has made the difficult decision to leave his birth Clan of DesertClan. Dustflame, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and to defend and protect this CallistoClan, even at the cost of your life?"
"I do." Dustflame proclaimed strongly, dipping his head low.
"Then by the power of StarClan, I accept your decision. From this day forth, you shall no longer be Dustflame of DesertClan. You shall be Dustflame of CallistoClan. Your old life is no more. StarClan honors your choice, and we accept you as a full member of CallistoClan."
As in DesertClan, the feelings of the assembled warriors were mixed: some shot dirty glances at the young warriors, others seemed to understand and sympathize with them. Opalpaw even started a cry of "Dustflame! Dustflame!" which a few cats joined in. For the first time since his decision, Dustflame looked embarrassed, and Inkmoon rather uneasy, as if afraid that her Clanmates would think her a traitor: Barkpelt did look distinctly annoyed as he watched his sister, and there was something like dismay on Rowanpaw's face.
With nothing more to say, Breezestar sprang back down from Tallrock and headed for the well stocked fresh kill pile, her stomach growling. She hadn't eaten since the previous night. Choosing a fat thrush, she gazed around the camp, contemplating where to eat it. The late afternoon sun warmed the clearing, and Aquastorm, Cloudypelt, and Dusktail lounged in the middle of it, their pelts glowing softly. Opalpaw and Peachpaw play-fought outside of the apprentices' den, watched by an eager Leafkit. Pebblemoss sat in conversation with Flowershell and Runningbrook, one eye on her kit, and outside of the elders' den, Splitfoot, Mosspelt, and Featherflight shared a rabbit between them. Near the mouth of the entrance tunnel, Shadowlight, Shimmerpool, Galewind, and Muddytail chatted, while nearby, Dustflame and Inkmoon were in conversation with Garnetfrost. Breezestar heaved another deep sigh, taking in the scents and sounds of the camp- she loved how full of life it was.
Muddytail approached her as she stretched out by the nettle patch. He was looking pleased, and his eyes shone eagerly as he sat down beside her.
"Breezestar, I was wondering about Rowanpaw. I really think he's ready to be made a warrior. He can hunt as well as me, can fight with the skill and ferocity of the best apprentices, and he's not daunted even by tree hunting anymore. He doesn't let his limp affect him at all- in fact, if I didn't know any better, I'd think him as healthy and whole as any cat."
Breezestar took a bite of the bird, allowing its juices to flood her mouth. When she had swallowed, she meowed, "I was going to talk to you about that. I agree: he's trained hard and long, and he's ready. I've seen him hunt and fight often enough to know that if you say he's prepared, then he is. How about I hold the ceremony tonight?"
"That would be great," Muddytail purred. "He'll be thrilled. I'll go find him and let him know- he just went out hunting with Lavendersky, Suntail, and Dusktail." The cream and brown warrior turned to go, but then halted, ears twitching. "He was supposed to do moonhigh patrol tonight," he informed Breezestar.
"Tell him he's relieved. I'll go instead- it's been ages since I had moonhigh patrol!"
"Okay, I'll let him know. See you, Breezestar!" Breezestar watched her first apprentice depart the camp, happy that he was happy. It made her glow with pride again to see how great a warrior, and a mentor, he had turned out to be. Muddytail had been so patient training Rowanpaw, willing to help him overcome his injury, and tonight it would pay off. Rowanpaw would be made a warrior at long last…
You had better watch this, Breezestar whispered silently to Moonfur. You should be so proud of you son- he's brave and determined, like you. She knew her starry friend would be with them tonight, congratulating her son along with the rest of his Clan.
٭ ٭ ٭
At moonrise, Breezestar called CallistoClan together again. The stars shone brightly in the clear night sky, and the pelts of her Clanmates glowed in the light like the pelts of StarClan warriors. Breezestar cast a glance around the clearing, searching for Moonfur's starlit coat, but couldn't see it. Instead, her gaze fell on Rowanpaw, who sat before her, his orange tabby pelt turned to fiery gold and his pale green-gold eyes bright with excitement. Muddytail sat behind his apprentice, full to bursting with pride.
Raising her eyes to Silverpelt, Breezestar mewed, "I, Breezestar, leader of CallistoClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn. Rowanpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
Her gaze fell once more to her brother's son as he mewed steadily, "I do."
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Rowanpaw, from this day forth, you shall be known as Rowansplash. StarClan honors your determination and your loyalty, and we welcome you as a full warrior of CallistoClan." Taking a step forward, Breezestar rested her chin on Rowansplash's bowed head and felt as he licked her shoulder. As she stepped back, Lavendersky and Goldenpelt led the cheer of "Rowansplash, Rowansplash!" and Breezestar thought she could hear Moonfur's lilting mew among the raised voices, calling out with pride for her son as she had done for her daughter. Breezestar's eyes met Oakpelt's, and she got the idea that he had heard the mew too. His gaze sure was full of love and longing…
The Clan began to disperse, and Rowansplash moved off to the entrance tunnel, where he would sit vigil while the Clan slept. Breezestar padded towards her own den, and pushing through the ferns, she was met by an eerie sight. Moonfur, or, at least, Moonfur's star-speckled outline, glowed against the dark stone walls of the den. The warrior dipped her head as Breezestar entered, allowing the ferns to swish back into place behind her.
"I am sorry to intrude," Moonfur murmured, raising her gaze to meet Breezestar's. Her eyes were as blue as the water of the Great River reflecting a cloudless sky. "But I couldn't wait to speak with you. First, I want to thank you again for watching over my kits. Lavendersky and Rowansplash have made me so proud, and Oakpelt, too. It still pains me to be away from them, but they are faring well.
"However I also have a warning for you. These are dark times, as you know, and not all is well within the Clans themselves. It seems some warriors are still not happy with DesertClan's arrival. These cats have the potential to cause great trouble in the future, so do not take for granted the peace that has for so long held between the Clans. And also don't let yourself be blinded, Breezestar. You have done well, far better than StarClan could have dreamed, but tough times and challenging decisions remain. You would do well to trust your heart, listen to your brain, and go by your instinct. And never forget that StarClan is here for you, whenever you need us.
"I must go now, but please be careful. I am watching out for you." Moonfur's stare burned with mingled joy and pain for a moment longer, and then she was gone, and the den was empty again. The camp outside had grown still, and the heat of the day still had not faded, even with the cool breeze that now blew in from the south. Breezestar thought she could smell rain, but couldn't be sure.
Though there was still time until moonhigh patrol, Breezestar's encounter with Moonfur had made her anxious, and all the tiredness had gone from her like dew from a leaf at sunhigh. Too restless to remain in her den, Breezestar backtracked into the clearing, which had emptied rapidly: the cats were making the most of their cool dens and a chance to sleep. Deep in thought, the young leader sat down in the mouth of her den, allowing the breeze to ruffle her fur and the scents and sounds of night to flood her senses.
A rustle to her right caught Breezestar's attention, and her ears pricked, twitching towards the medicine den next door. It was a moment before she could distinguish Peachpaw and Shadypelt's hushed whispers from the murmuring of the wind in the leaves. Curious as to why the medicine cats were up so late, she picked her way carefully through the ferns and into the shadowy den. Shadypelt and Peachpaw sat by the spring, their backs to her, but the young apprentice twisted around to watch Breezestar as she padded in with blue eyes.
Breezestar couldn't help but think of Moonfur; for both having blue eyes, Peachpaw's were so different. Instead of sky blue, they were more like ice, and flecked with gold. It was the gold in them that really glimmered in the half-light of the den.
"You're up late," Shadypelt commented.
"So are you." Breezestar replied coolly. "I've got moonhigh patrol, and I couldn't sleep."
"Join the crowd." Peachpaw muttered. "Actually, I've had another dream."
"Oh really? What about?" Breezestar asked, genuinely interested.
"It was scary." Peachpaw shuddered, going on, "There was a battle, between here and the MoonFalls. Cats from all the Clans were there fighting, but not another enemy- they turned on each other with bared teeth and unsheathed claws. Clanmates even attacked Clanmates, and blood soaked the earth. It was storming, a great, powerful storm that flooded the Great River and washed away the warring cats in a fierce, dark wave… That's all I saw before Shadypelt woke me up."
Peachpaw's words were troubling, and Breezestar wondered if they had anything to do with Moonfur's ominous warning. She decided to get a second opinion, quickly filling the two medicine cats in on her waking encounter with Moonfur. When she had finished, it was clear that Shadypelt thought it meant something significant.
"This can't be good," the blue-gray she-cat sighed. "Trouble within the Clans and without? Oh StarClan what next?"
"At least we've been warned." Breezestar pointed out.
"Yes, but I wonder if the other Clans have been warned too? Don't you see, this is where the problem stems from: StarClan keeps warning us, but leaving the other Clans in the dark! All that does is promote envy and doubt."
Breezestar couldn't argue with that- it was completely true. Instead, she mused aloud, "I wonder if Thornheart will have anything to do with this?"
"I bet he will. I bet he's the start of it all- the spreader of ill feeling," Shadypelt spat. "It would be just like him." There was such contempt in her mew, the likes of which Breezestar had never heard from the gentle medicine cat. Shadypelt gave the moss at her paws a venomous glare, as if it had done her a personal wrong just by existing. "That cat sickens me," she growled.
"Thornheart is that mouse-brained piece of foxdung that attacked you the moon I was made an apprentice, right?" Peachpaw queried. Breezestar nodded. "He's not very well mannered," the apprentice sniffed disdainfully. "He doesn't respect authority at all and tries to lord over the rest of us." Breezestar wondered fleetingly what Thornheart had done to Peachpaw to make her scorn him so much, and, if it had simply been his mannerism, where she had gained such insight.
"Yes, well, there will always be cats like Thornheart to remind us that we live in a time of unusual peace and should not take it for granted. Many of us seem to forget that things have not always been so friendly between our Clans. Peachpaw, did you know, for instance, that not long ago FlameClan had an ambitious and greedy leader? Or that when Morningstar was an apprentice, FoamClan's leader was a bloodthirsty cat intent on destroying CallistoClan?" Peachpaw looked shocked at this: it was obvious she had not heard. Shadypelt shook her head ruefully. "It seems all kits hear about in the nursery these days by means of tales are ones of happy times and great triumphs. No one ever bothers to tell the tales of the dark and the dangerous times. It's a mistake, if you ask me. Everyone should know that this is not an ideal world we live in by any means. With good comes evil, with happiness comes despair, with peace comes unrest. That's always been the way of the world, and now is no exception.
"But as I was saying, the Clans have not always been at peace. There have been times when they were all mortal enemies or uneasy allies, and the main purpose of Gatherings was to get information out of inexperienced apprentices and learn your opponent's weaknesses, lest you meet them in battle." Breezestar had rarely seen Shadypelt so worked up about such things: the young medicine cat's tail lashed furiously across the ground, and her paws flexed in the moss, claws extending and retracting as she tore at the spongy green carpet.
"Uh, Breezestar?" Peachpaw cast an anxious glance at her mentor before speaking- she looked uneasy, as if this was not the Shadypelt she was used to. "It's nearly moonhigh."
Breezestar glanced up quickly. Sure enough, the moon was high overhead. Already, the hushed sounds of the moonhigh patrol came from the clearing beyond. Breezestar stood to leave, stretching the stiffness from her muscles. There was a rustle of ferns, and her ears twitched towards the den entrance: someone was coming in. She turned and blinked in surprise. It was Shadowlight.
The dark tabby tom had stopped dead in the entrance, an uneasy look in his brilliantly blue eyes. "Am I interrupting something?"
His eyes met Breezestar's, and the air was charged with electricity. "No," she mewed stiffly. "I was just leaving." She flicked her tail, turning away from him, back to Peachpaw and Shadypelt. "I'll see you both later. Try to get some rest," she murmured. With a wave of her tail, Breezestar padded out into the clearing, passing Shadowlight without a glance.
The breeze had picked up slightly, cooling the air, and the smell of rain was fresh upon the night. The rest of the moonhigh patrol- Aquastorm, Amberheart, Snowheart, Barkpelt, and Maplefur- had gathered outside of the entrance tunnel, some looking sleepy, others wide awake.
As Breezestar headed towards them, another, smaller shape detached itself from the shadows. Breezestar heard Maplefur ask sharply, "What are you doing up, Opalpaw?"
Opalpaw halted a few pawsteps from her destination: the apprentices' den. "I was just making dirt," she replied. "I'm going back to sleep now."
Maplefur nodded curtly. "Good. I don't think Graytail would be too happy if you were too exhausted to train tomorrow."
"No, he wouldn't be," Opalpaw mewed with a laugh. "Well, 'night." She disappeared back into her den with the crunch of pine needles.
"She is so like her father," Maplefur muttered as Breezestar joined them and they padded out of camp.
"And who is her father like?" Breezestar asked playfully.
"His father!" Aquastorm purred.
"See, Maplefur? Even your daughter agrees with me- Opalpaw takes after you." Breezestar ran her tail over her friend's spine. He responded with a gruff purr, as if he was trying to keep it in.
"Okay, okay, so I was trouble when I was an apprentice. So?"
"So where do you come off criticizing Opalpaw?" Breezestar asked. "I'm only playing. You were being responsible."
"Well thank you for noticing," he replied haughtily. "Come on, let's get going." Maplefur assumed the lead of the patrol, heading towards the northern border. Breezestar fell into step beside him, relishing in the coolness of the forest, the soft moss and grass underpaw, the bracken and heather brushing her pelt, and the swish of the wind and rustle of nocturnal prey. She had forgotten how much she loved moonhigh patrol, when all the cats were quiet and she could reflect upon her thoughts or simply listen to the forest.
A twig crunched nearby, and then there was a rustle in a holly bush, and Breezestar picked up the scent of squirrel. The rest of the patrol had scented it too: Breezestar could see the glint in Aquastorm's eyes, the lash of Barkpelt's tail, and the twitch of Amberheart's ears, but they all passed by. This wasn't a hunting patrol; the fresh kill pile back at camp was well stocked. So the squirrel would escape- for now.
As they neared the northern border, the deciduous trees thinned, and the conifers of the PineGrove grew tall on all sides. Breezestar loved the way the moonlight filtered in through pines: the leafless lower branches appeared stark in contrast with the night, and a brown haze of sorts appeared to fill the grove. Pine needles softened their footfalls, occasionally crunching as they weaved their way among the trees, and the fresh scents of pine sap filled Breezestar's scent glands, mingled with the distant tang of rain.
At the border, Breezestar noted with satisfaction that no FernClan cats had crossed over into CallistoClan land: both borders were well marked, their scents mingling with the forest air. After checking the scent markers thoroughly, Maplefur led the patrol parallel with the border in the direction of the Great River. Its crashing grew louder as they approached, and Breezestar broke through the trees to see its waters dark and glittering in the light of a million stars.
They headed along the western border, passing the crossing stone and the Moon Hollow, refreshing the markers as they went. Halfway down the border, Breezestar picked up the fresh scent of a FoamClan patrol from the opposite bank, and moments later three cats appeared. In the dark, they were harder to distinguish, but the moonlight reflected on their pelts revealed them to be Shallowpool, Thymefur, and Meltingice.
The FoamClan deputy called out a greeting, which Breezestar returned, and both patrols continued on their way. At the southwestern corner of CallistoClan territory, just past the Pawsteps, they halted, breathing in the air, before turning towards the heart of the forest and padding off into it. They would not check the southern and eastern borders tonight: that would be left for the dawn patrol.
The moon was setting, but it was not yet close to dawn when they returned to camp. Rowansplash greeted them with a nod from his position in the mouth of the entrance tunnel, and Dusktail and Sorrelfur met them in the clearing.
"Everything peaceful?" the brown tom asked, green eyes reflecting the moonlight.
"Yes," Aquastorm replied, rubbing against his flank with a purr. Breezestar had noticed that the two of them were growing rather close. She wondered briefly what Maplefur thought about his daughter and his den mate as a kit getting together, but the golden tom appeared not to have noticed- he was already pushing his way into the warriors' den with a yawn.
"So what are you two doing up so late?" Amberheart inquired.
Sorrelfur looked worried as she mewed, "I was out hunting with Grainfur by the eastern edge of the stream, and we picked up the scent of badger. We didn't dare follow it alone, so we came back here. Dusktail told us your patrol wasn't back yet. I was going to wake Rapidriver, but then we heard you coming."
"Badger?" Breezestar asked, twitching her ears nervously. A badger in their territory was not a good thing by any means- they were vicious and a threat to the Clan cats. Pebblemoss especially wouldn't like this, having a young kit in the nursery… "And where did you say it was?"
"The eastern end of the stream," Sorrelfur reported.
"We had better check this out. Dusktail, Aquastorm, Amberheart, and Barkpelt, I want you to come with us. Sorrelfur, could you wake Rapidriver and Oakpelt, please?" The young she-cat nodded and bounded over to the warriors' den. She emerged a moment later with the two warriors at her heels, yawning and bleary-eyed.
"What's wrong Breeze?" Oakpelt asked, pausing to stretch.
"Badger," the leader replied, and both warriors' eyes widened in alarm. "Rapidriver, I'd like you to keep watch here. Set up a guard around the camp. Oakpelt, come with my patrol- we're going to find it and try to chase it out before it gets too comfortable and causes some real trouble."
Oakpelt and Rapidriver both nodded, and Breezestar turned with a swish and hurried back out of camp, her patrol following. Breezestar could smell their fear- it hung over them like a cloud as they headed south to the stream. The forest, which had seemed so peaceful not long ago, now seemed dark and foreboding, full of hidden dangers lurking just out of sight.
They were not far from the stream when Breezestar picked up the rancid stench of badger on the wind, and not long after that they could hear the beast blundering through the undergrowth. Though she had never encountered one herself, Breezestar had heard enough about them to know that they were formidable opponents. FoamClan had often had trouble with badgers, and she had heard from Fallenstar what damage they could do.
Still, she was unprepared for the creature that appeared among the undergrowth and faced her with beady eyes. It was large and black, with white stripes and huge paws each with a set of vicious claws. It snuffled through the ferns, and Breezestar motioned the patrol backwards. "Fan out and attack," she told them. "We should be able to overpower it." Without a sound, her warriors did as they were instructed, moving off through the trees to circle the badger.
Breezestar gave them a moment to get into place, then let out the battle cry. "Now!" She surged forward, the others doing the same. Taken by surprise, the badger was momentarily stunned, but it recovered fast, growling and swiping at the cats with its blunt paws. Oakpelt dodged the blow, lashing out at the badger's face.
Meanwhile, Dusktail and Aquastorm attacked it from behind, nipping at its hind legs, while Sorrelfur weaved her way back and forth, scratching its flanks and dodging blows nimbly. Barkpelt had leaped onto its back and was holding on despite the badger's best efforts to throw him off, and Oakpelt kept it confused with alternating blows to its forepaws.
Breezestar was left to face it head on in an attempt to divert its attention from her Clanmates. Claws extended, the fiery leader raked a paw down the badger's nose, causing it to cry out in pain. The creature reared back, finally dislodging Barkpelt, and snapped at the warrior as he fell, catching his forepaw in its jaws with a crack.
Barkpelt let out a wail of pain as his leg broke, and Amberheart was instantly at his side, slashing the badger's face. It dropped Barkpelt with a growl and swiped out one huge paw. Amberheart attempted to dodge, but was caught by the badger's other paw and fell limp.
Breezestar launched herself in front of her fallen Clanmates, lunging up at the badger with a hiss. It growled down at her and barred its teeth, but before it could attack, Oakpelt leaped onto its back and began clawing at its shoulders.
With a final snarl and a whimper of pain, the badger turned tail and blundered off, Oakpelt springing free and perusing it along with Aquastorm and Sorrelfur.
Panting, Breezestar watched them go before turning to Barkpelt and Amberheart. The latter was unconscious, but appeared relatively unhurt. Barkpelt was awake and breathing, but his eyes were dull with pain and his broken forepaw bloody. Dusktail appeared at Breezestar's side just as a blast of wind ripped through the undergrowth and a light drizzle began to fall. He had a couple fresh wounds, but nothing too serious.
"We should get them back to camp," he mewed, with a gesture at Barkpelt and Amberheart. "The rain won't do them any good."
Breezestar nodded. "You're right." Turning to Barkpelt, she asked, "Can you stand?"
Barkpelt's only response was to attempt to push himself to his paws. His limbs shook with the effort, and Dusktail rushed to support him. "This'll never work," the brown tom grunted. "He's too weak. We need help."
"I'll run back to camp," Breezestar began, but the sound of rustling undergrowth stopped her. Aquastorm, Oakpelt, and Sorrelfur returned, their eyes gleaming in triumph.
"We chased it over the eastern border." Sorrelfur informed her, dipping her head to lick clean a scrape to her forepaw.
"Good," Breezestar replied. "Help us get Amberheart and Barkpelt back to camp." The warriors nodded, and together Oakpelt and Aquastorm lifted Amberheart. The amber she-cat's fur was sodden and matted with blood and rain, and her tail drooped down, dragging over the wet ground. Breezestar and Dusktail supported Barkpelt between them; the tom hobbled along on three paws, his fourth held gingerly so that it would not touch the ground.
It had to be nearly dawn when they arrived back at camp, though the sky was still dark with gray rain clouds. The rain felt cool on Breezestar's pelt as she led Barkpelt into the medicine den- the forest was still hot and muggy with Greenleaf.
Shadypelt was already tending to Amberheart when they pushed into the den, and Peachpaw was busily readying a second moss nest for Barkpelt. The warrior sank into it with a groan. "Peachpaw," Shadypelt ordered, "dampen some moss and lay it over Amberheart's forehead. She's feverish, but it has nothing to do with the badger." Shadypelt huffed, annoyed. "She said she wasn't feeling well earlier; I told her not to do moonhigh patrol, but did she listen?"
Shadypelt left Peachpaw to do as she was instructed and padded briskly over to Barkpelt. After giving him some poppy seeds, the medicine cat set about straightening and splinting Barkpelt's leg using the same technique Breezestar had seen her use on Rowansplash and Suntail before him.
It was only once she had finished tending to him, and he was asleep, that Shadypelt turned her attention to the rest of the patrol. Peachpaw had already begun to treat their wounds with her new-found confidence and the air of a true medicine cat, so by the time Shadypelt joined her at work, only Breezestar had yet to be seen to.
It didn't take long for the blue-gray medicine cat to treat Breezestar- she hadn't suffered any major wounds- and before long the young leader was heading for her den. She was exhausted, having not slept at all that night, and the rain was still falling out in the clearing.
Breezestar paused before pushing through the damp ferns into her den, casting a glance around the camp. Rapidriver was gathering the dawn patrol, and as they moved out of camp, she mewed something to Rowansplash, who left his vigil to get something off the fresh kill pile, which he took into the warriors' den to eat. The cats that had fought off the badger were no where in sight; Breezestar guessed they were in their dry nests resting. Opalpaw padded slowly out of her den, stopping to shake the mud off her paws after a few steps, and joined Graytail at the entrance tunnel. Once they had gone, the only cats in the clearing were Pebblemoss and Flowershell, sitting in the mouth of the nursery and sharing a piece of prey while Leafkit watched the rain in wonder, splashing through puddles and lapping raindrops off of the ferns outside of the nursery until Pebblemoss called her back.
With a content sigh, Breezestar turned her back on the adventurous kit and the clearing and bounded the short distance to her nest. After licking most of the moisture out of her fur, she curled up with a yawn, and fell asleep within heartbeats. Her last thought before darkness enfolded her senses was of Moonfur's warning about trouble within the Clans, and she wondered vaguely how long it would be until the tension broke entirely.