Chapter 3

"Well?" Oakheart wondered.

Tinyclaw sighed. There really was no way out of this. "We tried hunting," he meowed, "but we found nothing."

"And yet you smell of mouse," Oakheart sighed. Tinyclaw winced and looked away, and Graystripe sighed. Oakheart grunted, "Come on – let's take this to Tigerstar."

Fox-dung! Tinyclaw growled.

Graystripe and Tinyclaw had no choice but to follow. Oakheart led the way across the clearing, towards the Highrock. There, at its base, lay Tigerstar's den in a cave hollowed out by an old stream. The lichen that usually sheltered the den's entrance from view was brittle and dormant. When Oakheart shouldered his way into his den, Tigerstar raised his head from his nest in the sandy center and opened his eyes.

"What is it?" puzzled Tigerstar. His ears pricked. "Is it Bluefur? Is she all right?"

"She's fine, Tigerstar," Oakheart meowed tiredly. "Three healthy kits, and they're feeding well."

"Congratulations," Tigerstar purred. "I'll have to see them in the morning."

"Bluefur would like that," Oakheart mewed. Then, he flicked his tail towards Tinyclaw and Graystripe. "However, there's another matter to be seen to."

Tigerstar blinked, and looked at the two warriors. Tinyclaw's paws trembled as Tigerstar's eyes glossed with confusion. "What is it?" he asked, again.

"These two were reportedly out hunting after the Gathering," Oakheart explained, "but they've caught nothing and both of them smell of mouse."

Tigerstar's nose twitched, and Tinyclaw wondered if the smell was that powerful. The massive tom swung his head between Tinyclaw and Graystripe. He asked, "How can this be?"

Tinyclaw sighed, but Graystripe pointed out, "We weren't on an official hunting patrol – we ate the first thing we could find to keep our strength up, but…"

"But there wasn't anything else after that," Tinyclaw finished. He appreciated Graystripe's lie. "We had a run of bad luck."

Tigerstar snorted. "In leaf-bare, all of our luck is out," he growled. "I appreciate what you tried to do, but the Clan needs to be fed first. You two should know that! Any warrior ought to be thinking of the whole of the Clan in times like these, not thinking only of themselves. That sort of mentality can lead to a Clan in chaos!"

Tinyclaw flinched at his words.

"I am disappointed," rumbled Tigerstar. "In the both of you."

Tinyclaw flattened his ears, feeling struck by his leader's harshness. Tinyclaw understood it, of course – the Clan needed to be fed first. It was part of the warrior code! But knowing that Tigerstar was upset with him was painful, especially since Tigerstar had already placed so much trust and faith in Tinyclaw before.

Oh, I would tell you the truth, he thought plaintively. But I can't. Not without sufficient proof. There was no way Tigerstar would believe the rockfall story without it.

"We're sorry, Tigerstar," Tinyclaw offered solemnly.

Tigerstar grumbled, " 'Sorry' fills no bellies, Tinyclaw." Louder, he meowed, "I have no choice but to punish you – apparently it's difficult for you to understand that the Clan must come first. Until the next sunrise, you two will hunt for the Clan and not yourselves. Only when the whole of the Clan has eaten may you take fresh-kill from the pile. Is that understood?"

Tinyclaw and Graystripe had no choice but to nod in confirmation. I suppose it's what we deserve, Tinyclaw thought grimly.

Tigerstar sighed, and his eyes softened. "Now, you two look tired. Please, get some rest. I expect to see you out hunting before sunhigh."

"Of course, Tigerstar," Tinyclaw meowed. He bowed his head before he and Graystripe ducked out of the den, tails low.

Once outside, the two turned themselves towards the warrior's den. On the way, Graystripe sighed, "Great StarClan, I thought Tigerstar was going to have our ears!"

Tinyclaw nodded in agreement.

"Count yourselves lucky," growled a voice.

Tinyclaw saw a flash of dark movement out of the corner of his eye. A dark shape detached itself from the Highrock and flowed over to them like a shadow – Darkstripe. Tinyclaw curled his lip preemptively as the dark warrior approached.

"What do you want?" Tinyclaw growled.

Darkstripe narrowed his pale eyes. "If it were me, I'd have punished you properly," he growled.

Tinyclaw spat, "You couldn't punish a flea for biting your rear, Darkstripe!"

Darkstripe curled a lip, exposing his teeth. Tinyclaw stepped forward at the challenge, but Graystripe pushed between them.

"Stop this, both of you!" he hissed. "It's leaf-bare – is this really worth it?"

Darkstripe stepped back and turned around towards the warrior's den. "Slink away, kittypet," he hissed over his shoulder. "I saw you at the WindClan battle, don't forget. One word from me and Tigerstar won't be trusting you for long."

Tinyclaw narrowed his eyes as Darkstripe slipped into the darkness. Only when the striped tip of the dark warrior's tail disappeared did Tinyclaw roll back onto his paws and sheathe his claws. Before him, Graystripe lashed his tail.

"You have to be the stupidest cat I've ever met!" Graystripe cursed. "What use is there in winding Darkstripe up like that?"

"Hey; I didn't ask to be involved in any of this," Tinyclaw hissed back, lashing his tail. "Darkstripe is the one working for Bluefur – at least he's all bluster and no bite."

"Well, stop trying to provoke him," Graystripe sighed. He nudged Tinyclaw and added, "If you keep tweaking his tail, that might change."

Graystripe and Tinyclaw slipped into the warrior's den, grateful as warmth seeped over their fur. Graystripe huddled in his nest, sleeping quickly, while Tinyclaw circled several times before laying down. He settled his head on his paws and sighed.

"Hey."

Tinyclaw twitched an ear and looked to the side. Sandstorm had lifted her head from where she laid beside Dustpelt. She tipped her head and meowed, "You OK? I thought I heard arguing. Darkstripe came in her mumbling like some bee had stung his tail."

Swallowing, Tinyclaw staring into those lovely green eyes. He longed to tell Sandstorm the truth, but there were too many ears and Darkstripe was not far away. Tinyclaw swept his tail over his nose and muttered, "I'm sorry, Sandstorm – I'm tired. We… We can talk later."

Tinyclaw was shocked when he didn't hear a hiss of annoyance from her. Instead, warmth flooded over him as Sandstorm was suddenly by his side, winding around him. Warmth flooded Tinyclaw's pelt as Sandstorm settled with her side pressed against his and a soft purr in her throat.

He lifted his head, just to see if it was true – and there she saw, pale and lovely and lying next to him. Tinyclaw purred himself before settling his head down, his heart warm.

Before he closed his eyes to sink into that warm bliss, he caught Dustpelt lifting his head in the gloom. The brown tabby warrior saw he and Sandstorm through narrowed eyes. Dustpelt hissed and pointedly turned his back.

Tinyclaw didn't even care – he could wake up with Dustpelt's and Darkstripe's claws aimed at his throat but he would sleep easy with Sandstorm by his side.

Tinyclaw's paws danced along the hunting tail. It was one he knew well, like the pattern of his coat. His body was full of energy and warmth, and his tail flicked from side to side as he opened his jaws to taste the air. The smell of flowers and growth was in the air, but none of it clouded his senses. He knew he was dreaming, but his hunger felt real.

The icy leaf-bare seemed nine lives away as he padded along. Every leaf and blade of grass seemed to glow with life and light, and the air was healthy with birdsong. Newleaf was here to stay and the only evidence of leaf-bare were in the cold puddles nestled between root and in little gullies.

Tinyclaw began heading upwards with the path as it began to incline – but his paws halted as another cat stepped out of the trees and onto the path.

"Redtail!" Tinyclaw breathed.

The former ThunderClan deputy was not an unfamiliar sight – the warrior had visited Tinyclaw in dreams before. Redtail had been viciously murdered by Bluefur in the hopes that she might take over the Clan. His death had been unjust and wrong and Tinyclaw knew Redtail's spirit was going to help Tinyclaw bring Bluefur to justice.

Redtail lifted his distinctively red tail in acknowledgement – and as a signal for Tinyclaw to follow. The small tom took off across the path and through the trees. Tinyclaw started in shock and brought his paws to life to follow the dappled tom.

Tinyclaw followed Redtail through the trees and up a slope – Redtail stopped at the crest of the hill. When Tinyclaw caught up, breathless but feeling fine, Redtail flicked his tail.

"Look," Redtail meowed.

Tinyclaw followed the flick of his tail. Down the slope was… water. Tinyclaw's eyes widened in shock. Where there ought to have been ground for leagues there was a shimmering, shining expanse of water, still and cold. Trees and other debris poked up from the water, and it reflected perfectly the sunny sky above.

Water… he thought. Where did it all come from?

Redtail moved close. His breath was on Tinyclaw's ear as he warned, "Remember, Tinyclaw – remember the danger of water."

Tinyclaw turned to look at the tortoiseshell tom. "What do you mean?" he asked.

Redtail blinked and repeated, "Remember the danger of water."

And suddenly Redtail and the hill were gone and Tinyclaw was plunged deep, deep into the water below. Bubbles escaped his mouth as he sank down into darkness. He scrabbled with his paws to break the surface, but the weight of the water dragged him down into the nothingness.

"Tinyclaw! Wake up!"

Tinyclaw opened his eyes in shock to Graystripe's voice. The world was warm and cold all around, and he was back in the warrior's den and not drowning in his dreams. His pelt felt light again, unencumbered by water. Graystripe was crouched before him.

"It's nearly sunhigh, Tinyclaw," the gray tom offered, his yellow eyes wide. "Are you all right?"

Tinyclaw caught his breath. "I'm fine," he insisted. "Just… a bad dream."

"Well…" Graystripe looked befuddled. "It's almost sunhigh – we need to get out there and hunt."

Tinyclaw nodded. "I know," he meowed. He was still having trouble coming out of his dream. "Meet me outside, OK? I'll be out in a heartbeat."

Graystripe shrugged, nodded, and then left the den and padded off, leaving Tinyclaw in the den, mostly alone.

Tinyclaw took a deep breath, allowing real smells to comfort him. Redtail's warning echoed in his mind – remember the danger of water – over and over and over, and Tinyclaw clawed to find some meaning. Was water going to flood the camp? Was it real, physical water, or something else?

Spottedleaf told me that the smallest cat could save the Clans, Tinyclaw thought. She said it like it was directed at me, and Redtail… now Redtail is telling me water is dangerous? I'm so confused – do they have anything to do with one another?

Tinyclaw shook his head and stepped outside, into the cold. The air was damp and Tinyclaw felt his thoughts over his head like thunderclouds. Something was coming – was Redtail's warning prophesizing some sort of watery doom for ThunderClan?