Chapter 25
Shadepaw was prodded awake as red light filtered through the gaps in the abandoned nest's walls. She thanked Feathertail for waking her before getting to her paws to tend her patients, chewing on a leftover shrew as she worked.
Nightpaw's leg was healing well, but Shadepaw still feared infection. Her connection to her brother told her that he was feeling minor soreness, and not much else. Stoneheart was more concerning, however; the wound wasn't red or angry but it needed more time than the traveling cats had to heal. Shadepaw nosed the cobwebs, worry prickling her pelt.
"I'll be fine," the warrior insisted. "It's just stiff."
Shadepaw frowned. Warriors always say that, she thought. It was one of her first lessons – that warriors were always too stubborn for their own good, and always more eager to rush off before they were actually safe to do so.
Her heart ached, thinking of that lesson. Brackenfur had been so patient and kind… she missed him, now. She recalled her conversation with Mistyfoot hours before, and her Clanmate's question burned in her mind.
Why did I come, really? She thought. Spottedleaf told me to follow my heart… but that could mean anything. Did I run away just because I was upset at Brackenfur? Was I really so petty?
Shadepaw chewed up the last of the burdock, her stomach clenching. She applied the poultice to Stoneheart's shoulder, then covered it again with cobwebs. It would have to do – no matter how Shadepaw was feeling, they needed to get out of this Twolegplace. StarClan was waiting.
Stoneheart got to his paws immediately, hiding a wince as he tested his weight on his injured limb. Shadepaw had a feeling that some cat was going to end up supporting him before the night was through.
"I'm ready," he insisted.
Mistyfoot's eyes flashed to Shadepaw, then back to her brother. "Are you sure?"
"We'll need to take it slow," Shadepaw pointed out.
Crowpaw bristled beside her. "We need to get out of here," he snapped, glaring at Purdy. "This old bag's been leading us in circles! The Father is behind us, not ahead!"
Stormfur frowned skeptically. "I get you're impatient, Crowpaw, but Purdy is the only cat who knows how to get around a Twolegplace."
Purdy nodded. "Stars don' mean much 'round here," he huffed. "Neighborhoods like this aren't like a path through the woods, y'hear? Things don' go in straight lines like y'think they should."
Crowpaw muttered, "I think your brain isn't in a straight line…"
Shadepaw nudged him, hissing, "Stop it!"
Crowpaw lowered his hackles, grumbling under his breath. Shadepaw lashed her tail. StarClan save me from bratty toms! She cursed inwardly. She remembered her promise not to yell at Crowpaw again, and part of her regretted making it – sometimes it was all too tempting to scream in the WindClan cat's ear, even if it only made him more obstinate.
Still, his comments didn't seem to be helping the group's confidence in their guide. Purdy looked unaffected by the uncomfortable shifting or skeptical looks of the journeying cats. Part of Shadepaw feared that Purdy really didn't know where he was going, and they'd end up running in circles around this Twolegplace forever.
She felt bad for the old cat, too; he was clearly very lonely, and even though he didn't understand Clan ways it didn't stop him from helping. If he were a Clan cat, he would be another chatty elder – Shadepaw wondered how many stories he had that would drive kits wild with wanderlust.
"Let's move out," Stormfur decided, raising his tail. "Lead the way, Purdy."
"Gotcha," the old tabby rumbled. "Keep close now, youngins; we're almost through!"
Purdy led the way out of the nest and into the backyard, pushing through a gap in the fence and into another empty yard. Shadepaw's ears pricked, picking up the sounds of monsters rumbling to and fro across the nearby Thunderpaths, and even heard the sounds of some Twolegs chattering somewhere out of sight. Her anxiety spiked.
"Don' worry none," insisted Purdy. "The Twolegs're just headin' home to their nests! They'll all be gone real soon."
He was right – as the sun slid into darkness, the noises quieted to only the occasional monster or stumbling Twoleg. Purdy wove through a thicket of abandoned nests, all of them in various degrees of disrepair, to avoid the stragglers. He explained that some Twolegs get funny at night, and could often throw something called 'bottles' at cats.
"That sounds awful!" Feathertail fretted as Purdy described how bottles exploded on impact. Shadepaw's pelt prickled coldly, thinking of the wounds it might inflict.
"They got bad aim," assured Purdy. " 'N I don' think most all Twolegs mean it, y'know."
"Still," Mistyfoot murmured, "to think they might treat their kittypets like that… How could any creature want to be beholden to them?"
"They ain't all bad," Purdy insisted. "Jus' like not all cats're good, y'know?"
Shadepaw frowned. Were my father's owners good to him? She glanced at Nightpaw, who seemed to be having a similar thought. Their father had left his nest of his own accord, according to the stories. Tinystar barely remembered his Twolegs. Would they have been good to him, had he stayed?
Purdy led the journeying cats out into the open as their surroundings improved. No longer were they ducking through dilapidated structures or splashing through puddles gathered in huge pits in the ground. Now they were in an area similar to the houses they started in, which didn't help Shadepaw's sense of direction.
"See? Circles," grunted Crowpaw.
"Almost through," Purdy told them. "Jus' a lil more."
The journeying cats followed the old tabby as he padded along the base of a see-through fence. He veered off, squeezing through a gap in the mesh and encouraged the cats to follow. Stormfur squeezed through first, then Shadepaw followed Stoneheart. The big gray tom winced, but after a check on the other side Shadepaw determined he hadn't reopened his injury.
"What're we doing here?" Feathertail asked, bringing up the rear.
"Takin' a lil' break," Purdy explained. He flicked his tail around the yard – it was big and expansive, the Twoleg nest many lengths away, with all its lights out. The old tabby tom led the way across the yard to a grove of strong-smelling plants that made Shadepaw's nose tingle. Mistyfoot sneezed.
"Fish!" Stormfur exclaimed.
"What?!" Feathertail pushed herself up front.
The journeying cats clamored around the little garden, staring down into a wide, stone-lined pool of water. Shadepaw saw big, colorful shapes flitting through the water, unsettled from their sleep by the cats. They were unlike any fish Shadepaw had seen in the forest, with scales splashed like a calico cat.
"Hungry?" Purdy asked.
"Now I am!" Stormfur purred, positioning himself by the water. Feathertail followed, her eyes bright.
Shadepaw purred – trust the RiverClan cats to get excited over fish! She looked down into the water, feeling her own curiosity mingling with Nightpaw's. "Think we can try?" her brother asked.
"Of course!" Stormfur mewed. "It's easier than anything, c'mon; we'll show you!"
"We're not RiverClan!" Crowpaw insisted. "That's…"
"Oh, come on," Shadepaw mewed, nudging the WindClan tom with her muzzle. Crowpaw stalled, his blue eyes clouded as he looked at her – then he grumbled under his breath and followed Shadepaw over to Feathertail.
The others distributed themselves similarly between the two RiverClan cats, until the whole pond was surrounded by hungry jaws. Purdy stretched off to the side, lying down for a moment, watching with half-closed eyes.
"Now, this is a small pond so it'll be easier," Stormfur began, "but the general rule is to keep your reflection off of the water."
Mistyfoot shifted on her paws, muzzle screwed up in concentration. "This is… harder than it seems," she admitted.
"Didn't Silverstream teach any of you how to fish?" Feathertail wondered. She had her paws on Nightpaw's shoulders, adjusting him so that his eyes didn't scare the fish.
Mistyfoot shook her head. "She wanted to, but Tinystar worried it might cause trouble with RiverClan," she explained.
"She still brings back a minnow sometimes," Nightpaw pointed out. "She catches them special for the kits and elders, says the oil's good for their bellies."
"It is!" Shadepaw confirmed. She was still trying to get her own positioning correct, finding it awkward to place her paws. "A few trout and Frostfur's fur grew back all silky-smooth from a bad hot spot she had."
"Alright, now concentrate," Stormfur mewed. "Keep still and most importantly, keep quiet – even your breath can spook a fish."
Shadepaw clamped her jaws shut. The air went still and quiet around the pond, and Shadepaw's muscles ached from trying to maintain this awkward position for what seemed like ages. Pudy snored behind them, but the colorful fish didn't seem to care.
Suddenly a paw shot out, and Feathertail had hooked one of the big fish onto land. "Kill it!" she called.
Stoneheart lunged forward and snapped its spine with a massive bite. Shadepaw's eyes went round – the fish was twice as big as it had seemed in the water a moment ago. No wonder RiverClan cats ate so well!
Feathertail nudged the massive fish towards him. "Go on; you and Nightpaw share that."
Stoneheart seemed about to object, but he dipped his head in thanks. He and Nightpaw carried their catch away from the pond so that the others could fish undisturbed.
It didn't take long before each cat had a big fish to share. Shadepaw had nearly hooked one herself, but her clumsy paws had sent it flopping back into the water. Mistyfoot had managed her own, with Stormfur's help – the two shared it side by side. Feathertail had caught two more and, with her claws, had split the flesh evenly so that each cat could have a share, even Purdy.
The fish flesh was soft and oily, with a watery flavor that Shadepaw was unsure of. It filled her belly, though, and Shadepaw imagined that she could get used to the flavor, especially if it made her pelt shine like Feathertail's.
"Do you think the lake will have fish?" Nightpaw wondered, drawing his paw over his whiskers.
"It looked big enough," Feathertail mewed. "I don't think a Clan could live out of it, though. Fish like hiding at the very bottom if they feel too hunted. I don't think any RiverClan cat could make it that far down."
"I wonder why we're going there…" Stoneheart sighed. He looked down at the stone-lined pool, looking thoughtful. His whiskers twitched, his eyes brightening. Shadepaw tilted her head – was he okay?
The fur along the big gray tom's shoulders bristled. "Mosspaw?" he murmured.
"Mosspaw?" Mistyfoot's ears pricked. She turned to look at her brother, eyes wide. "Where?"
"I-In the pool," Stoneheart breathed, looking up from the water. "I could've sworn I saw her…"
"Was it a sign?" Feathertail wondered.
Stoneheart blinked, looking up at the night sky. "I… I think so," he mewed. "The sky is clear. It wasn't clouds on the water… it was Mosspaw."
"So we're heading the right way?" Crowpaw guessed.
Shadepaw looked up at the stars. They blinked above, unmoving. She wished StarClan were speaking to her – she might know better how to read their signs. At least, I think I would, she told herself, recalling the vision of mist back in the forest. She looked at the others, feeling somewhat useless as a medicine cat – how could she not, when others were the ones receiving the signs?
That's not fair, she told herself. StarClan chose them for something beyond a medicine cat's skills. What needs to be done is something they need to do… and I know I have to help.
Mistyfoot was close to Stormfur, their pelts brushing. Shadepaw watched their tails twine together. A prickle of discomfort traveled up her spine. Did they even realize that they were so close their whiskers were touching? Did no one else notice?
Her heart ached. The entire group was sitting together, like Clanmates at suppertime, sharing tongues and joking and laughing. Affection gleamed in even Crowpaw's eye as he washed behind Nightpaw's ear.
Shadepaw swallowed, suddenly finding the fish hard to manage. Their journey was nearing its end – what would happen to this closeness when they had to go back to their Clans?
Dawn broke as Purdy led them out of the Twolegplace. Shadepaw stretched and purred, grateful for grass beneath her paws again. The entire world felt open and wide again, stretching before them into rolling plains and forests. Each cat took a deep breath of the clear air, and Shadepaw sent a prayer of thanks to StarClan for their relatively safe journey.
"Here y'are," Purdy offered, his purr rusty. "Toldja I'd git y'all out safe!"
"I'm sorry we doubted you," Stormfur meowed, touching his nose to Purdy's head. "We're in your debt, Purdy."
"Oh, don' go fluffin' m'fur," the old tom chuckled. "Jus' bein' neighborly." He ducked away from Stormfur and pointed ahead with his tail towards a nearby clump of woodland. "You'll wanna head there first, I reckon; a nice lil' place. There's a stream there that'll take y'to yer lake if y'follow it up a ways, y'hear?"
Shadepaw's heart beat in her ears. Feathertail's eyes lit up, and she purred, "We're so close!"
"Let's go, then," Stoneheart insisted. His eyes were glazed with pain, and Shadepaw frowned. The last burst through the Twolegplace had taken its toll, and his wound was oozing slightly. He needed more rest before he went on – they all did. Stormfur pressed his body against Stoneheart's, subtly supporting the proud ShadowClan warrior.
Shadepaw looked back to Purdy. The old tom's eyes gleamed wistfully, and Shadepaw's heart twisted. She blurted, "Come with us, Purdy! At least to the woods."
Purdy's eyes widened. "Oh, y'all don' need to-"
"We insist," Mistyfoot meowed, stepping forward. She nudged Purdy with her shoulder. "We need to thank you properly for your help."
"Yeah!" Nightpaw purred. "And you promised us you'd tell the story about how you fought off three Twolegs!"
"Please," even Crowpaw meowed, coming to stand beside Shadepaw. "You helped us so much."
Shadepaw felt a prickle of affection for the WindClan tom that startled her. Each time Shadepaw thought that Crowpaw was just a prickly blockhead he proved that beneath it all he did have a soft heart. She touched her nose to his shoulder gratefully.
"Well, I ah…" Purdy's whiskers twitched in consternation. "Don' look like I got much choice, eh? Well, c'mon then youngsters! Let old Purdy show the way…"
The old tabby charged forward, suddenly full of energy. Shadepaw purred in amusement as he began to boisterously talk, his voice carrying in the open breeze. Stormfur let him lead the way, the journeying cats falling step behind him as Purdy began to talk at length about a time he'd saved a Twoleg kit from a fox single-pawed…
They reached the woods by midday. They made camp in a small clearing beside the stream Purdy had pointed out before – he insisted that following it would take them to the lake.
"Where does it go otherwise?" Mistyfoot wondered, staring downstream.
"A real nice place," Purdy purred. "Good hunting; real pretty sunset."
"Let's go then," Stormfur insisted, nudging Mistyfoot along. "We'll be back before dark!"
"Bring lots of prey!" Feathertail called as the two disappeared downstream.
Shadepaw made up a nest amid a tangle of roots right by the stream. To her joy, there was a small burdock plant growing just nearby. Using it she had been able to make another poultice for Stoneheart's shoulder, and set the ShadowClan tom to rest. Nightpaw's leg needed only rest, so she ordered him to listen to Purdy's stories for as long as he could.
"No problem," Nightpaw agreed, yawning.
"Crowpaw," Shadepaw mewed, "would you mind going over Purdy for ticks?"
Crowpaw's eyes flashed. He looked like he might refuse – until his eyes softened on her and he nodded. "Sure."
Shadepaw curled her tail self-consciously around her paws, watching Crowpaw nestle himself beside the old loner and set to work. Nightpaw helped, too, grooming down Purdy's tangled mats while he listened intently.
"You've got that Crowpaw wrapped around your tail!" Feathertail purred, sitting beside Shadepaw.
Shadepaw's pelt felt hot. "I do not!" she insisted. "He's not hard to work with if you don't assume he'll fight you on everything."
Feathertail flicked her tail. "I don't know what we'd do without you, Shadepaw," she went on. "You've been such a help."
"Thanks." Shadepaw lowered her head, hoping she looked humbler than she felt. It was so nice to be able to use her skills without Brackenfur hovering over her, and she'd learned a lot just from the journey. Feathertail's words made her feel better after her troubled thoughts the night before.
Shadepaw glanced up at the others. Stoneheart was asleep now, with Crowpaw and Nightpaw both tending to Purdy as if he were an elder from their Clan. Nightpaw paused to yawn, and Crowpaw pushed him to the side so that he could rest. Shadepaw felt the unity in the air like she had the night before, stronger this time.
She looked downstream and felt her pelt prickle with worry. Stormfur and Mistyfoot's closeness last night, and now they were hunting alone together… "Stormfur and Mistyfoot have gotten so close," she commented.
Feathertail stiffened. "He has a huge crush on her," she admitted. "It was only inevitable."
"I think it goes both ways," Shadepaw pointed out, recalling the conversation she had eavesdropped on in Purdy's old home.
Feathertail's eyes clouded with worry. Shadepaw shifted on her paws – so she wasn't the only one that noticed, and she wasn't the only one worried. Did the others know? Did Nightpaw?
"They should be careful," Feathertail whispered, looking down at her paws. "A broken heart is so painful a thing… I don't want to see either of them suffer that."
Shadepaw touched her nose to Feathertail's shoulder. The emotion on the she-cat's face was so raw that it made Shadepaw's own heart ache. Oh, Feathertail, Shadepaw thought sympathetically, I can't imagine who would ever break your heart…
Feathertail gave no more details, and Shadepaw wasn't going to force her. This was the saddest she had ever seen the bubbly RiverClan warrior, and Shadepaw knew now that StarClan's message wasn't the only reason she'd been so eager to leave home.
I just hope this journey doesn't end with more broken hearts…