Chapter 4, Discoveries

Rainpaw prowled along, in search of prey. It had been almost a moon since he had been apprenticed and he had to hunt for the elders. He had learned the hunting crouch well and saw a mouse nibbling in the corner of a bush. He readied himself and slowly approached it, cautious of the low-hanging brambles, which might give him away. He would have caught the mouse if Pinepaw hadn't come blundering around the bramble. He hissed in annoyance. The mouse was gone. "Pinepaw! What on earth do you think you're doing! I was stalking a mouse!"

Pinepaw looked embarrassed. "Oh...sorry. You might find something on Sunningrocks."

Rainpaw was puzzled. "Sunningrocks? That's RiverClan territory!"

"Not anymore!" Pinepaw looked ready to burst. "RiverClan gave up their claims to it!"

RiverClan? Give up claims to territory? Had Pinepaw gone mad? Completely, totally mad?

Pinepaw must have seen the incredulousness in his eyes, and she said, "Look! LeafStar's coming! She'll tell you!" As Pinepaw happily skipped off into the bushes, Rainpaw cursed under his breath. He had had bad luck hunting that day. He had caught a thrush a while back, and a vole, but the vole was scrawny. It was still early in Leafbare, so any prey was welcome, but today was an especially warm day.

He should have caught more.

He saw a squirrel on a tree trunk and started stalking. His belly fur brushed on a leaf and the squirrel started up the tree; but he leapt after it and caught it. LeafStar purred from behind him. "I see my apprentice is coming along well."

Rainpaw whirled around, setting the squirrel down, and started to speak. "Pinepaw said that RiverClan gave up claims to Sunningrocks. Did they?"

LeafStar looked troubled for a moment. "Yes, yes, they did."

Rainpaw looked steadily at her. "Did they say why?"

LeafStar paused for a long, long moment. Then she finally said, "My apprentice, some things are more complicated than they seem."

Pinepaw hissed in Rainpaw's ear, "Get up!"

Raising his head, blurry eyed, he said, "Why? LeafStar gave me the dayofftraining. She's on patrol."

"I know, furball. I need you to do something for me."

"Oh great. What?"

"Come with me out of camp. I can say that I'm collecting chervil. We're short, and Sunfire is out of camp collecting some. Come o-o-on."

Once they were out of camp, they started zigzagging towards the RiverClan border. When Rainpaw tried to ask where they were going, Pinepaw just said, "Shh!"

Eventually they came out a short distance past Sunningrocks. Rainpaw could see Sunfire collecting herbs at Sunningrocks. He hoped that she couldn't smell him.

"Care to tell me WHAT we're doing?"

"I have to talk to some RiverClan cats!"

"WHY?"

"Sunfire's not herself lately. She's let some stuff spill about RiverClan."
"Weaknesses?"

"NO, you stupid furball! She says ThunderClan owes RiverClan."

"We don't owe them anything! But why are we going...oh no, you've got to be kidding me. I am NOT crossing that."

The river seemed to flow higher than ever.

Pinepaw said, "Come o-o-on. There's a crossing right there."

And so they crossed the river into RiverClan territory. Their luck happened to run out as RiverClan scent came wafting into Rainpaw's nostrils. It must be a patrol! But it wasn't.

It was the RiverClan medicine cat.

Pinepaw called out softly, "Mossbed! Over here!"

The tabby grey shecat's ears pricked up and she padded over to where they were. "I thought I smelled ThunderClan. I thought it might be Sunfi- someone else."

"You thought it might be Sunfire!"

The tabby grey shecat eyed Pinepaw up and down. "Yes, Pinepaw. I thought it might be Sunfire."

"Why?" This time it was Rainpaw who asked the question.

"Well, young apprentice, Sunfire and I have a history. A history that is about to destroy both of our clans. So, youngster, perhaps I need your help."

Pinepaw's eyes gleamed - an adventure! "We'll help!"

Rainpaw sighed. There was no way he was going to get back to his nest and feed the elders before sunset now.

Mossbed purred. "Young apprentices. Come here and I'll tell you a story.

"There was a time, when the old ThunderClan medicine cat, Featherleaf, died. She had no apprentice, as she was a young cat. LeafStar was newly appointed also, if I recall. And Sevenclaws was her deputy. Got his name from a badger. He scratched it real bad, with seven claws. Before that his name was Oakclaw. But ThunderClan needed a medicine cat. What could they do? My clan volunteered to train the medicine cat. They wanted something from ThunderClan." She paused, as if to swallow bile down her throat. But before she could begin again, Pinepaw said, "But why then did they give up Sunningrocks?"

"They had what they wanted, didn't they?" Rainpaw broke in.

Mossbed seemed as though she were walking on sharp rocks. "I couldn't bear it to see Sunfire suffer. I have kept him busy, but not for long."

"Kept who busy?" This time it was Rainpaw hot on the trail, not Pinepaw.

But then, RiverClan scent hit his nostrils. A patrol! Mossbed hissed in his ear, "Go! Meet me at Fourtrees tomorrow! Bring another cat with you, but don't tell them what's going on before you get to Fourtrees!"

When they got back across the river, Hollypaw's head poked up out of a bramble patch. "What were you doing on the RiverClan side of the border?"

Rainpaw cursed. On a normal day, he would have been happy to see Hollypaw. But on this day, he would not appreciate Hollypaw's incessant questions. Then he thought of something. Bring another cat with you! A strange tingling feel came along his spine as he thought of Hollypaw. He brushed it away and answered her. "Um...Hollypaw...well..." Pinepaw sighed and got straight to the explaining. "Um...well, I needed to talk to some RiverClan cats, because Sunfire hasn't been herself lately. But, um, we need to meet Mossbed at Fourtrees tomorrow, and-"

Rainpaw cut her off, "And you're the best cat we could think of to come."

Pinepaw's whiskers twitched.

But at dawn tomorrow, they were at Fourtrees, all three of them. But Mossbed wasn't there. Or at least, that was what the cats thought, until they saw a grey shape lying on the ground. "Mossbed!" Pinepaw yelled in panic.

Rainpaw rushed forward, but Hollypaw stayed where she was. Before Rainpaw could say anything, Hollypaw said, "Rainpaw...she's dead."

Rainpaw's eyes were wide. He couldn't think of anything to say.

A voice spoke from the other side of the clearing. A silver grey tabby was the speaker. She said, "Greetings. I am Mistyheart of RiverClan. I believe you were here to talk to Mossbed." Hollypaw whirled around, ready to attack the shecat.

She said, "No, no, keep your claws to yourself, little one. I did not kill her, but there is one in my clan that did."

Rainpaw hissed. RiverClan were always at the bottom of everything.

The shecat continued, "Mossbed made a fake sign. She herself was half ThunderClan, you know. Barkclaw, formerly one of your elders, was her father."

Hollypaw gasped. That was against the warrior code!

Mistyheart spoke again, "My brother, Hawktalon, did not share her point of view."

Pinepaw was shocked to her roots. Hawktalon of RiverClan killed Mossbed? And she had no apprentice!

LeafStar was still. Mossbed of RiverClan was dead? She groaned. This was the same situation that had happened to Sunfire. This time, she was determined to make a better choice. At the gathering tonight, she would have to see what was to be done, and what the RiverClan leader, StreamStar, would say.

Rainpaw's legs urged him forward. He wanted to race ahead into the forest, and he felt like he could run forever. But he had to wait for LeafStar to give the signal. His paws worked impatiently on the grass. Finally, after what seemed like a lifetime, LeafStar's tail twitched. He rushed in after her. She leapt quickly up onto the Great Rock. DuskStar and SnowStar were already there, but StreamStar had not yet arrived. Finally a party of cats emerged. SnowStar said, "Finally. We've been wasting moonlight." StreamStar leapt up onto the Great Rock and began immediately. "Cats of all Clans. RiverClan needs your help. Our medicine cat, Mossbed, died of Greencough a couple of days ago. She had no apprentice. We must ask you, DuskStar, SnowStar, and LeafStar to train a medicine cat for our clan. LeafStar, do not forget that I did this once for you..." LeafStar obviously knew what StreamStar meant, but she did not acknowledge it. She stepped forward and said, "ThunderClan will help you, if no other clan will. We have a medicine cat, and Sunfire would be more than happy to train a RiverClan medicine cat." LeafStar's eyes glittered, and Rainpaw wondered whether LeafStar thought this was a way to weaken RiverClan!

Pinepaw and Lightpaws, the WindClan medicine cat, were talking over by the clearing. Pinepaw looked serious and Lightpaws looked anxious. As Rainpaw came over, Lightpaws jumped. Pinepaw murmured, "It's alright. He knows about Hawktalon." To Rainpaw she said, "He says that he has proof that Hawktalon killed Mossbed."

Rainpaw looked at her incredulously. "Are you a complete mousebrain? You can't just talk like that at gatherings! Pinepaw!"

Hollypaw came up from behind, and said, "Pinepaw, Rainpaw's right. You need to be more careful what you say." Rainpaw was glad that Hollypaw agreed with him.

Pinepaw looked disappointed. "But Rainpaw-"

"No! Pinepaw, we don't have any proof!"

"That's just what I'm telling you - Lightpaws HAS proof."

"Pinepaw, it's time to go home."

But now Hollypaw was looking uncertain. "She says he has proof..."

Rainpaw almost yelled at Pinepaw. Hollypaw had been on his side to begin with, and Pinepaw seemed to have won her over.

Rainpaw sighed. It looked like he wasn't going to get in his nest tonight.

Pressing her belly fur to the ground, Hollypaw waved her tail. Lightpaws was shaking beside her. "This is where I saw it," he gulped. Hollypaw said, her patience running out, "Saw what... exactly?" Rainpaw agreed with her. They had come all this way, and Lightpaws still hadn't told them what the proof was. Lightpaws said, rather snappily, "I'm not exactly comfortable on your territory, you know."

"And...the proof?" Hollypaw mewed impatiently.

They were standing near Snakerocks. Rainpaw could easily understand - the elders all told tales about cats getting bitten by adders. Placing his paws carefully, Lightpaws moved forward. A hiss startled him. A snake was right in front of him!

A voice came from behind them all. "You know, I wouldn't go in there if I were you. But, I'm not, because I like my life too much to go blundering in where I don't belong."

Hollypaw gasped. It was Hawktalon of RiverClan! Hurling herself through the clearing, she landed on top of him. Grunting, he swatted her to the floor. With Hollypaw pinned down, Rainpaw couldn't think of anything else to do. He also jumped over, adders springing up around him like coiled twigs.

Pinepaw and Lightpaws gasped. They could do nothing in the midst of this quarrel. They were medicine cats, and although they were still trained in fighting, they were not strong fighters. Hawktalon was strong. Too strong. Much, much, too strong for two apprentices. Rainpaw and Hollypaw ran towards the Twoleg Bridge. Hollypaw gulped. It was all Rainpaw could do to keep still so close to The Gorge.

He hoped that Hawktalon had followed them and not Pinepaw and Lightpaws, who he hoped were running back to ThunderClan camp. But he knew Pinepaw too well for that. No, she would run after them. Cursing her stubbornness already in his mind, although she had not appeared, he saw Hawktalon racing towards them. But before he could do anything, Hawktalon slipped on the stone, and was on the ground. Hollypaw saw her chance. She and Rainpaw pinned him down. Rainpaw was just about ready to slit his throat or push him down The Gorge, but Hollypaw wanted answers. She hissed, "Did you kill Mossbed?"

There was smugness in Hawktalon's eyes. "Yes," he said.

Hollypaw's eyes went cold. "What did you know about Sunfire?"

A purr rose up in his throat. "Sunfire? What do you think any of this has to do with Sunfire? Mossbed was half-clan. She didn't deserve to live in RiverClan. I was going to announce it to all the clans at the next gathering - after I become leader, that is."

Hollypaw's eyes grew huge, but it was Rainpaw that spoke. "StreamStar has a deputy, and she has many lives yet. If you kill StreamStar, then Rockflow will take her place, and he is a fine young cat."

"Once he makes me deputy I will kill him. It will be easy. Take him hunting to The Gorge, and it will be only too easy to push him. You try and stop me!"

Hollypaw's voice was cold. "You would break the warrior code? Then you are no longer a fit warrior, let alone leader."

"The warrior code was made to be broken!"

A shadow fell across her heart. No! She wanted to yowl. The warrior code was not made to be broken! It should only be broken in times of need! Rainpaw shoved Hawktalon to his feet. Pinepaw, from the shelter of a bush, padded out, dark green eyes wide. "What are you doing? Watch out!" Hawktalon shoved Rainpaw towards the gorge.

As he went over the side, Hollypaw felt a hole tear open in her heart. She growled and battered Hawktalon with her paws. He slashed at her but she barely noticed the pain. Then she heard a worried meow. Rainpaw was alive! He was clinging to the side of the gorge! She dove, giving Hawktalon the perfect opportunity to push her over the edge.

But as she scrambled, Sevenclaws hooked his teeth into Hawktalon's neck, and the cat crumpled on the earth. He managed to utter one more sentence, before the light went out of his eyes. "What will you do...when your medicine cat...turns? After what is coming...she will turn to...her mother's clan! Oh yes...Sunfire is half RiverClan. Mossbed broke the warrior code by falling in love with Jaydark..."

Hollypaw said, "Sunfire's blood might be half RiverClan." Rainpaw continued, "But she is all ThunderClan."

LeafStar scrambled down the rocks. "Well, well. Three nosy apprentices have found out what experienced warriors could not. I often thought it was strange the way that Hollyflower wouldn't let any cat see her litter for a couple of days after they were born. Nightears always seemed a little bit strange about Sunfire."

Pinepaw said, "But...you knew, didn't you?"

LeafStar purred. "Yes. I did. You know that no cat must hear of this, don't you?"

As three pairs of heads nodded, Lightpaws stepped out also. "I promise by StarClan I won't tell any cat."

LeafStar looked thoughtful for a moment, then inclined her head.

As Rainpaw and Hollypaw padded back to camp, Rainpaw could not remember ever feeling happier.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the Highrock!" LeafStar's clear voice sounded through the clearing. "Rainpaw, Hollypaw, come here. I, LeafStar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these two apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn. Hollypaw, Rainpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and defend your clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"We do," they mewed in unison.

"Rainpaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Rainfur. StarClan honors your courage and bravery, and your knowledge of what is right. Hollypaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Hollyclaw. StarClan honors the energy and wisdom that you have gained."

As LeafStar's gaze swept over them, Rainfur saw Dawnpaw glaring jealously at them. Rainfur realized that she should have been made a warrior also. As Hollyclaw's gaze slid past Rainfur, her eyes grew pleading. Dawnpaw spun on her heels. Hollyclaw pressed her side against Rainfur and they walked together towards the warriors den.

The sun set over the two of them as they padded away. Dawnpaw was furious. She had been an obedient apprentice when her sister had not! She deserved to be a warrior more than her sister! She almost crashed into Sunfire, who was coming out with watermint in her mouth. Sunfire's voice seemed to come from far away as she dropped the watermint. "Dawnpaw, StarClan has spoken to me. They have a prophecy for you..." Dawnpaw was about to snarl something, but Sunfire cut her off.

"Rocks cut in her pads. She walks the rocky path between darkness and light. Light burns her eyes and darkness is where her love lies. The heart of Dawn will herald the night with no stars and a dawn with no sun."

Dawnpaw shuddered. Sunfire's words had the unmistakable ring of a prophecy from StarClan, but they were somehow rougher, deeper...darker.

She thought, StarClan, no! Don't let my warrior name be Dawnheart!

One moon had passed. Pinepaw bent her nose to touch the Moonstone and felt icy coldness spread through her. At the end of the ceremony, Sunfire gasped, "Pinepaw! There is something I must do. Come here." Pinepaw obediently stretched to her legs and padded over. The glittering eyes of the other medicine cats in the dark told her they were watching.

"Pinepaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Pinepool. StarClan honors your wisdom and compassion."

The newly named Pinepool raised her head and felt all the cats of StarClan around her. She raised her head proudly. She was a medicine cat. And she was happy. She looked up at Sunfire. Being a medicine cat was her dream. She was glad she had finally achieved it.