CHAPTER TWO

"All cats who are old enough to hunt for themselves," grumbled Yellowstar, lumbering into the clearing, "come and gather for a Clan meeting." Xir tail dragging, the pale tabby who served as leader was not inclined to raise xir voice these days, though it mattered little, for many of the KnollClan cats were already gathering at the sight of their leader returning from the woods, while Daisyfur trailed behind. Yewstorm, Emberpaw, and Brownstripe stepped from the nursery at their leader's call, joining the throng of cats who had formed a crowd around Yellowstar's paws. Adderpaw and the other two warriors were among their ranks. The apprentices sat down apart from each other, with Daisyfur and Yewstorm between them.

Yellowstar leaped onto a ledge for xir announcement, beginning by addressing the Clan by name. The old cat who spoke to them was gaunt and grizzled, with a quiet rasp of a voice that grated like the bark of an oak. KnollClan's leader was a cat who had seen death, not only that but who had tasted it, who had bitten down on its wretched bitterness and swallowed—though how many times remained unknown to most. Many times xe had seen the cats of StarClan, and xe did not care to speak of it. In fact, xe did not care to speak much of anything. Xir announcements were often blunt and quick. "The act of harming a Clanmate is deserving of a punishment. For one moon, Adderpaw will be prohibited from visiting with the elders."

Holding xir tongue, Adderpaw lowered xir head, disheartened.

"However," Yellowstar continued, "It would be unwise to suppose that responsibility lies only with one cat. We must all examine ourselves before we can find the root of the problem which has allowed this to happen. If there is any poison among us that would cause a warrior to turn against a Clanmate, it must be destroyed before it destroys us. In these times especially, KnollClan needs more loyal cats, not less."

Emberpaw, regaining xir characteristic excitement, stood up and interjected, "I know! We can invite that kittypet who lives by the border to come join the Clan!"

Yellowstar looked down on xem with a frown. "Don't be ridiculous."

Emberpaw shrank back and was silent.

"This meeting is adjourned." And so it was.

With Yellowstar's official judgment now delivered, the cats began to speculate again. Adderpaw's punishment had been decided, and no cat bore xem any more ill-will than that, but the Clan was still uncertain what they could have done to prevent this.

Brownstripe padded toward the ginger apprentice and lowered xir head for a conspiratory whisper while most of the cats were beginning to speak in normal tones. It was agreed that Yellowstar had the right idea in deciding Adderpaw couldn't go to the elders for a while. Xe had been listening to quite a few of their stories as of late—most of them such violent stories, too—was that where Adderpaw got the idea? All warriors must face the reality of battle, and there was no use in trying to shield them from learning. Besides, all of those stories were about attacking other Clans, not their own Clanmates.

"The war with MeadowClan was not long ago—"

"And many of us still bear scars from the battle with BrookClan—"

"And TunnelClan!"

"We do not speak of TunnelClan."

Emberpaw crouched down and made xemself small at the rebuke, this time coming from Blacktail.

As the discussion continued, it was agreed that Adderpaw's actions did not warrant a silencing of stories, but nothing further was decided on the matter.

KnollClan's medicine cat left the meeting with a heavy heart. They were small troubles now, but xe feared this was only the beginning of greater strife within the Clan. Not only that, but word had spread of a dangerous rogue trespassing through Clan territories. It had been last sighted on border between their land and that of BrookClan. All this came upon more recent misfortunes that still plagued Doveheart's mind. Not only that, not only that, not only that...

Some of xir herb supply was decaying and would soon be useless. Xe liked to replace them every few days to keep it fresh. Now would have been a good time to go collecting, but Doveheart was not in the right spirits to go out in the forest. Instead the medicine cat retired to xir den and curled up in a furry gray ball for a nap. A while later, Molenose noticed xem twitching in xir sleep, fitful with agitation, and the curious cat gave xir a prod on the cheek.

Doveheart woke with a start and looked up at xir old littermate with widened eyes before easing back on xir side. "Oh, it's only you."

"Yeah. What were you all twitchy about?"

"I was having a... a very strange dream..."

"About what?"

"About..." After a pause, Doveheart frowned in thought. "I wasn't a medicine cat."

"What were you?"

"Just a cat, I suppose."

"You mean a warrior?"

"Yes... No... It was just very strange."

"Maybe it was a message," xe teased, "from StarClan."

Doveheart was just as sarcastic in return. "Yes. Indeed. A sign that I was not meant to be a medicine cat." Xir tone changed as xe continued, "I know the dead possess wisdom that we do not, but I don't believe Acornstripe when xe says that xe has spoken with them. StarClan can't advise us any more than we can advise them. If there is a way of reaching them, it will not be through sleep. My dreams have only ever been the dreams of a normal cat," xe concluded, and xe realized then that xe didn't want to face the possible implications of that. "What did you wake me for, Molenose?"

"You were fidgeting like a squirrel. I wanted to see if you were alright."

"Of course I'm alright." Xe began washing a paw.

"Well, I was curious."

"You're always curious."

"Yep."

Doveheart took a swipe at xir smug face and pushed past xem, but Molenose was not one to be set aside.

"Are you going to this moon's gathering?" xe asked, following.

"Yes, of course. " Doveheart paused and looked at xem. "Why wouldn't I?"

"Oh, well—" Xir old littermate took a step back and squatted down. "Just, you know... just curious."

"Have you spoken to Redfang and Ravenfur yet?"

At this, Molenose eased back up and tilted xir head. "No. Why would I have—"

"Aren't you curious?"

The warrior remained silent.

It was evening now, and the outline of camp was faint in the evening light, the leafy shadows of the overbearing trees nigh indistinguishable from the uncovered areas of dimly-lit earth. Xe could see Emberpaw on the other side of the clearing, enjoying xir unrevoked privilege and speaking with the elders, though if Doveheart knew anything about Emberpaw, xe would likely be sharing all the details of the visit with Adderpaw later on.

Despite all the talk that had transpired in the middle of camp, no cat had yet approached Redfang and Ravenfur since the incident. None but Emberpaw. For what was there ever to say to them, but 'tell us another story'? There was no changing the elders, or so the wisdom went. Doveheart was hesitant, anticipating futility, but given their influence and how much time they spent with the two young littermates, xe decided xe would pay a visit to Redfang and Ravenfur as well.

The medicine cat found xemself receiving a warm welcome at the elder's stump. Emberpaw bowed xir head and thanked xem again for the herbs, while the two elders bowed their heads deep in respect, each with a twitch of their whiskers and a gleam in their eyes. The old ginger tabby was lying on xir side, a retired black warrior curled up beside xem. Both were battered with old scars, their ribs rippling their pelts, though their fur was clean.

Doveheart gave them a cordial greeting, bowing xir head in return to xir elders, and asked them what they had been telling the little apprentice about this evening.

"A battle," said Ravenfur, "in the fight for the rocky slopes." Xir voice was like the rattle of dry leaves in the wind, xir yellow eyes staring out from a face seeming featureless in it its perpetual shadow.

"But you wouldn't know much about battles, then, would you, medicine cat?" rasped Redfang, stretching one of xir stiff joints.

Undaunted, Doveheart ignored the hint of malice in such a question and responded brightly, "No, thank goodness, in my lifetime a battle has never taken place in KnollClan camp."

The elder grunted and flicked xir tail.

"May I hear the rest of the story now, Ravenfur?" chirped Emberpaw, the base of xir tail quivering with excitement.

Ravenfur shifted xir weight and pushed xemself to xir paws, eyes set on Doveheart. "Well, we wouldn't want to upset our dear medicine cat."

"I've seen plenty of blood in my time—"

"That's right, you know the healers don't like hearing about how much work we give them," Redfang chuckled, kneading the earth with xir claws.

Ravenfur agreed, saying, "Doveheart would surely disapprove."

"Well—"

"That's it then. Off you go, Emberpaw. No more nasty stories for you." The black elder waved a paw to shoo xem off, and the apprentice lowered xir tail as xe turned to go, crushed with disappointment.

"Now what was that for?" Doveheart exclaimed.

"You mean you didn't come over here to tell us what a bad influence we are?" Redfang was feigning earnestness.

"Why, Doveheart, we didn't know you supported us elders and our boring old exploits. We're glad you think so highly of us."

"It's an honor to have the medicine cat's blessing."

"Well I didn't say—"

"Why don't you call Emberpaw back over, let xem listen a little more?"

At this point, the gray medicine cat had fluffed up xir fur and was glaring at the both of them. But xe did not call Emberpaw back over.

Instead xe swung around and trotted after the ginger apprentice, telling xem to wait.

Though unhappy, Emberpaw was still obedient to xir superiors, coming to an abrupt halt and giving the medicine cat xir attention.

"What were they telling you? What did they say about the battle?"

"Isn't it Molenose who's usually the nosy one?"

"Emberpaw!" Doveheart looked shocked.

Xe shrank back and flattened xir ears; xe knew that had been out of line. "I'm sorry, Doveheart."

Seeing such immediate remorse, the medicine cat didn't take but a moment to respond. "Get up. You are forgiven."

Emberpaw gradually rose up and gave a real answer. "Redfang and Ravenfur were telling me about how they'd driven MeadowClan off our lands. That was back before they had retired from their duties, and were still young enough to fight."

Doveheart searched xir eyes but said nothing, and the apprentice grew bolder.

"I want to be a great warrior like them some day. I'll claim new territory for KnollClan and destroy all the others! BrookClan, and MeadowClan, and Tunnel—"

"We do not speak of TunnelClan." How had Emberpaw learned of such things, anyway?

"Yes, Doveheart."

"You're excited to go into battle, then?"

Emberpaw raised xir tail once more, xir eyes bright. The cuts on xir face were slowly healing. "Isn't every apprentice?" xe replied.

"I was an apprentice, once."

"Oh. Yeah, I guess not everyone gets to fight. But those that do can fight extra hard to make up for you— I mean, you and the ones who don't." The tabby looked back over xir shoulder at Redfang and Ravenfur. "They must be sad to have left that life behind."

Doveheart followed xir gaze. Redfang and Ravenfur were gazing at each other, twitching their whiskers and purring with glee. "Yes, I'm sure they're full of nostalgia," xe mused, though xir subtle sarcasm was lost on the naïve little tabby. Dismissing Emberpaw to do as xe wished, the medicine cat turned and headed for xir den just as Spiderclaw came racing into camp, heading straight for Yellowstar. Not paying much attention to what xir old littermate was up to, Doveheart wanted to check up on an old infection of Brownstripe's, and then xe would need to replenish xir herb supply. Xe tried not to think much about what hassles would be solved by having an apprentice. That wasn't going to be a possibility again for a long time, and xe needed to get used to that.


"Yellowstar. Urgent news."

"It's the rogue, isn't it?" The leader sounded tired, with a dry assuredness as though xe had predicted this would come to pass, as though the outcome were too certain to dread—and yet the news still came as a blow. "It's moved onto our territory now," xe guessed. It wasn't a question; xe already knew.

"There are traces of an unaffiliated feline scent on our side of the border, " Spiderclaw continued. "Very close to camp. From what I could tell it's also had a recent brush with MeadowClan patrols. They didn't leave it with any parting gifts that would have weakened it though. It's completely healthy, of a mature age, and it was well-fed when it came through. The scent couldn't be any older than from sunhigh this morning."

"Can you track it?"

"No. I scoped it out but there's not a strong enough trail for me to follow."

"Then get Leechwhisker and Molenose to do the tracking. There's a thief on our territory and you're going to find it."