Chapter 9

"I smelled it, I tell you," growled Snowpaw. "ShadowClan! Right on our side of the border!"

"ShadowClan?" Spottedpaw breathed. Her chest fur fluffed.

Snowpaw nodded. "At least a whole fox-length into our territory!" he exclaimed.

"And after all we've done for them!" huffed Amberpaw. "We gave them one of our medicine cats!"

Maplepaw trembled beside Spottedpaw. ShadowClan, on their territory? Were they invading? Her paws itched. Jayfeather had put a balm on them that morning when she'd woken up, insisting that she not lick it off. She'd slept for a whole day and night without any dreams – Mapleshine must have tuckered her out more than Maplepaw had realized.

"Thornclaw went to tell Squirrelflight and Bramblestar," Snowpaw declared. His tail-tip twitched. "I'm sure there'll be a meeting!"

"Did you scent who it was?" Amberpaw asked. "We've smelled some ShadowClan cats at the last Gathering. Was it familiar?"

Snowpaw shook his head. "I bet it was a powerful warrior, though!" he boasted. "Scouting our territory and looking for the best place to lay claim!"

"ShadowClan likes extending their borders," Amberpaw agreed. "I suppose the Great Battle's peace couldn't last…"

Spottedpaw glanced at Maplepaw, worry flashing in her friend's amber eyes.

"There's Dewpaw," Amberpaw mewed, nodding her head towards their gray brother. "Let's go tell him!"

The two siblings went off to tell Dewpaw the exciting news. Maplepaw's eyes followed them, watching as Dewpaw returned, dusty, from patrol near the WindClan border. Their fur was slightly damp from the early rain. She watched as Dewpaw's expression went from quiet interest to wide-eyed concern. Quickly, his mouth moved, and his sibling's fur bristled in return.

"What's going on?" Spottedpaw asked. She nudged Maplepaw, drawing her attention away from their denmates. Spottedpaw nodded towards the Highledge. "Millie just went up there!"

Maplepaw's eyes went wide. "Do you think there was a problem at the WindClan border?" she wondered.

"Seems like it," Spottedpaw murmured. "If Millie went up to report to Bramblestar directly, that is."

Maplepaw kept her eyes trained on the Highledge. A moment later, Thornclaw and Millie exited the cave. Following in their pawsteps were Bramblestar and Squirrelflight. By the time Thornclaw and Millie were on the ground of the hollow again, Bramblestar's summons rang out through the camp.

The cats gathered. Graystripe, who had been sunning himself outside the elder's den, settled down beside Briarlight, his daughter. The only warriors who were missing were Bumblestripe's hunting patrol of Toadstep and Lilyflight. Cinderheart came out alone, sitting near Lionblaze and Ivypool. Poppyfrost lay near Maplepaw's mentor Berrynose beside the nursery entrance – with Daisy still unable to leave her kits, she would need to be informed of the meeting.

Maplepaw and Spottedpaw padded over to join Amberpaw, Dewpaw, and Snowpaw near the back of the crowd.

Dewpaw was talking, quietly, under his breath. "We found scent of WindClan and scraps of prey, but it wasn't any cat that Millie, Cloudtail, or Brightheart knew well," he stated. His nose wrinkled. "It was a crow-food stench more than anything."

"Cats of ThunderClan!" Bramblestar announced. The crowd quieted. "I've received unexpected news. Two accounts of border crossings, one from ShadowClan and one from WindClan."

"That's outrageous!" Graystripe complained. Millie was by his side. "There's no need for squabbling now."

"The Great Battle is won," agreed Brackenfur. "Why start things now?"

"That's what I intend to find out," Bramblestar meowed. "It may just be a freak coincidence."

"We found prey on the WindClan side," countered Cloudtail. "I don't think that's a coincidence."

"I know," Bramblestar said, nodding. "That's why there's going to be two patrols. We're going to figure this out, ThunderClan – and we're going to do it without violence. Like Brackenfur said, there's no need to start any fights now, when the greatest battle we've ever faced has been won not too long ago. I believe the Clans can be civil about these sorts of things."

Bramblestar eyed the Clan. Then, he announced, "I'm going to take a patrol myself to the WindClan border. There was prey found there, and I want that figured out before anything else. Squirrelflight will take another patrol to speak to ShadowClan about their border crossing near the Twoleg path on ShadowClan's side."

There was murmuring, but it seemed as if all the Clan agreed.

"We'll figure this out," Bramblestar promised, "and we will stop the trespassing."

The Clan cheered for their leader.

Bramblestar and Squirrelflight leaped down from the Highledge. Warriors converged around them, clamoring to get in on the patrols.

"We should try to go, too," Amberpaw said determinedly. Dewpaw and Snowpaw were already pushing through the crowd, trying to get to Bramblestar and Squirrelflight.

"The patrols are bound to look less threatening if there are apprentices with them," agreed Spottedpaw.

"Good luck," Maplepaw offered. She lifted an injured paw. "I'm not much use for patrolling with my claws torn."

Spottedpaw threw her a sympathetic look. "If I go," she promised, "I'll tell you all about it."

Maplepaw watched the choices be made. In the end, Bramblestar chose Brackenfur, Cloudtail, Spiderleg, Lionblaze, Amberpaw and Spottedpaw. Squirrelflight took Millie, Thornclaw, Birchfall, Dovewing, and Snowpaw. Dewpaw seemed disappointed at being left behind.

"Brightheart!" called Bramblestar.

"Yes?" the one-eyed warrior mewed.

"Take Mousewhisker and Icecloud to go and fetch Bumblestripe's hunting patrol," Bramblestar mewed. "Tell them what's happened, and then go hunting yourselves."

"Take Dewpaw with you, too," Millie offered. "I promised him he'd go hunting, but he'll have to do it without me."

Brightheart nodded. Dewpaw didn't seem so disappointed anymore. The group moved to take off through the thorn tunnel, but they were halted when Jayfeather stepped into the crowd.

"Wait," Jayfeather meowed, his voice rising over the clamor.

Brightheart and her patrol paused.

"Leave Icecloud here," Jayfeather meowed, his blind blue eyes seeking out the white warrior's pelt. Icecloud's ears pricked.

"Why?" she asked.

"Foxleap was asking after you," Jayfeather told her. "He wants to see you."

Icecloud's eyes were wide and worried for her littermate. She looked at Brightheart, and then at Bramblestar.

The big tabby nodded his huge head. "Of course she can stay," he meowed. "Brightheart, take Rosepetal instead."

I wonder if that will help Foxleap feel better, Maplepaw thought.

The two she-cats switched places, and Icecloud followed Jayfeather into the medicine cat's den. Brightheart set off on her patrol, grateful for the lack of interruptions. Then, the other two patrols got organized and left. Spottedpaw gave Maplepaw a nod before she left through the thorn tunnel, following Amberpaw as they trotted after Bramblestar.

Maplepaw sighed. The dust was clearing, and the cats were huddling up into groups to gossip about what had just happened. No one asked her to join them.

I should have gone, Maplepaw thought, looking down at her wounded paws. If I weren't so weak they would have begged for me to come on that patrol with them.

"Maplepaw!"

Maplepaw's ears pricked at the raspy voice. It was Graystripe, whose long gray fur laid well over his plump belly.

"Mind coming to clean out our den?" he asked. It wasn't an order – more like a casual invitation to chat. "I'm sure there's some story we haven't told you yet."

Maplepaw had no choice but to nod and follow him. For now, this is what her lot was. Her paws would be better soon… and then her training would recommence.

Mapleshine's odd request was just a flash at the back of her mind.