Chapter 16

Tinyclaw stepped out of the apprentice's den and into the sunlight. The sky was a clear, pale, robin's egg blue and Tinyclaw guessed that they would be in for more mild weather. After all the cold rain lately, he was grateful for the break.

He looked back at the den and sighed. Having to sleep there again was possibly the worst part of the punishment. Thornpaw and Brightpaw were always stunned, wide-eyed, as if two warriors sleeping in the apprentice's den was comparable to sharing it with a badger. Swiftpaw openly sneered, telling jokes into the night. Cinderpaw had been embarrassed – but she more than once forced herself between Swiftpaw and the punished warriors. At least she could shut down Swiftpaw.

And Tinyclaw's dreams had been unsettling, too, ever since the move. He'd be in a foggy place, unsure and confused, smelling Redtail but never truly seeing him. He'd hear Redtail saying something, but the voice made no discernible words. He was gone before anything could be made of it, and Tinyclaw was awake.

Tinyclaw pushed it out of his mind. He assumed the stress of being forced into apprentice duties was getting to him. He settled himself down and began to wash, thinking to the day ahead – when Graystripe woke, they'd need to find a warrior to supervise them on yet another hunting patrol. If Runningwind was free, maybe…

As he washed, he spotted Tigerstar and Bluefur sitting at the foot of the Highrock. With her kits getting a little older, Bluefur was able to leave the nursery more often – however, with the kits still dependent on her for food Bluefur couldn't leave camp. Her duties as deputy wouldn't return for almost another whole moon, but it didn't stop her from organizing the occasional patrol or talking to Tigerstar.

Just as Tinyclaw wondered if they knew he was watching, Tigerstar flicked his tail – a signal to come over. Tinyclaw got to his paws and took a deep breath, knowing that he would have to deal with Bluefur in some capacity. He padded over.

"Tinyclaw," Tigerstar began, "I've been talking it over with Bluefur. We've decided you've been punished enough. As of today, you and Graystripe are considered warriors again."

A rush of relief flooded Tinyclaw. "Really?" he breathed, giddy. "Thank you!"

Bluefur breathed, "Let's hope you've learned a lesson."

Before Tinyclaw could respond, Tigerstar meowed, "Darkstripe is leading a patrol towards Fourtrees. In two nights' time the moon will be full and we need to ensure that ThunderClan has some way to attend the Gathering. I'd like you to accompany the patrol."

"Of course," Tinyclaw mewed. Even if it was going with Darkstripe, he wouldn't challenge Tigerstar now. The Clan needed to get to the Gathering, and Tinyclaw was willing to put up with Darkstripe to find a way.

"I'll tell him, then," Bluefur meowed. "One more cat ought to do it, yes?"

Tigerstar nodded in agreement, and Bluefur padded off to the warrior's den. Tigerstar turned to Tinyclaw and meowed quietly, "This will be an important Gathering. We need to know how the other Clans are coping after the flood, and just how high their tensions are."

"Of course," Tinyclaw agreed. He recalled his concern about the deaths of RiverClan warriors in the flooding. He was probably worried about the other Clans, too. "We'll find a way."

"See that you do," Tigerstar sighed."We cannot afford to miss a Gathering." Bluefur was returning, and Tinyclaw's heart sank as he spotted Darkstripe and Longtail trailing after her. Suspicion immediately entered Tinyclaw's mind – why would Bluefur go out of her way to not only pair him with Darkstripe, but another cat who openly hates him?

"Ready?" Bluefur asked.

Tinyclaw nodded. He didn't miss the sparkle in her eye as she stepped away. Tinyclaw looked at Darkstripe and Longtail, trying not to glare. The idea of being alone in the forest with both of them made him more than apprehensive – it was clear that Bluefur was plotting something by pairing him up with them.

He flicked his tail. No, he couldn't let those thoughts cloud his mind like some addled elder. Not only would it be exactly what Bluefur would want, but it would be giving in to paranoia during a routine – and logical – patrol. No, he needed to think that there was nothing wrong with this.

And yet, as they set out with Darkstripe in the lead, Tinyclaw couldn't help but recall the battle within the WindClan camp where Darkstripe had watched Leopardfur tear Tinyclaw to shreds. Tinyclaw would have died if it hadn't been for Graystripe, but Darkstripe had made no move to help and it was clear that Tinyclaw was supposed to die in that battle.

Something's up, he thought, starting at Darkstripe's striped back. I can smell it.

For the sake of the patrol, though, he put it out of his mind. Darkstripe led them up the ravine and into the forest, their paws falling on the familiar trail to Fourtrees. They kept up a brisk pace, but the newleaf sunshine had brought out prey and the tempting rustle of undergrowth grew to be too much. Darkstripe allowed them to stop and hunt.

There was little comment as Tinyclaw brought down a speedy vole, but Longtail seemed pleased with the catch. The two shared – strangely enough – while Darkstripe fetched his own prey. To Tinyclaw pleasure it was a scrawny shrew, still starving from leaf-bare.

With their meals done the patrol pressed onward. With their stomachs full and the air turning warmer the patrol seemed unanimously optimistic. Tinyclaw was sure they'd have good news of some kind to report…

Until they reached the top of the slope to Fourtrees and their hopes shattered. What was supposed to be green and grassy leading down to Fourtrees was a sheet of water. Beyond it all was Fourtrees in the lowlands.

Darkstripe hissed. "Great," he groaned. Longtail made a noise of dismay.

Tinyclaw took a pawstep forward, trying to see a possible way forward. They were so close – only a few slopes to go – but there was nothing. Debris and trees lay in their way, submerged in river water. What was once a shallow stream was now a river itself, with a churning, powerful current.

"Wonderful," Longtail sighed. "Want to cross? I don't."

Darkstripe sighed. "There's a point further on that Whitestorm talked about," he meowed. "Come on."

He led the way up the slope until the land petered out and became flat. The water was still higher than any of them would have liked, but bits of undergrowth poked through the water and betrayed that it wasn't as deep as what lay downstream. It was still clogged with dirt and debris, but there was a way to cross… if one was daring enough.

"It's lower than he reported," Darkstripe meowed. "We'll try here."

Longtail didn't look pleased, and Tinyclaw seconded the opinion. After all his escapades in the river, getting wet was the last of Tinyclaw's desires. Yet Darkstripe led the way into the water and they had to follow. Wetness creeped up his legs and onto his chest when the taller cats were soaked to their belly. Tinyclaw stretched his neck to keep himself from getting submerged.

"What're we looking for?" Longtail wondered.

"Anything we can cross with," Darkstripe replied. "Rocks, branches…"

Tinyclaw looked around. Wherever there had been something to use, it was submerged in water. Even stones that had once been lying on bare ground were useless now. It was hard to discern what was stable and crossable when the water was brown with mud.

"Over here!" called Darkstripe.

He had waded further into the water. There, a tree had been felled by the rushing current and pinned against the banks. Its roots reached up to the sky, clogged with dirt and sod while the top lay at the other side, partially leafless. The tree was thin and stripped of bark, looking shiny and slick.

"We might be able to get across here," Darkstripe offered, placing a paw on the trunk. He narrowed his eyes at Tinyclaw and jeered, "Come try it out, Tinyclaw."

Tinyclaw frowned. Of course.

"What is it, kittypet?" Longtail sneered. "Scared?"

Tinyclaw sighed and waded over. The water was up to his chin by the time he reached Darkstripe, but he was still able to plant his paws onto the trunk and scramble up. The tree bucked and swayed beneath him, but Tinyclaw dug his claws in and didn't move until the tree stopped swaying.

Heat beating in his ears, he began padding along the trunk. It was thin and Tinyclaw couldn't place two paws together but it seemed to be holding his weight. Carefully he made his way forward – until the tree bucked and swayed again and Tinyclaw was nearly flung off.

When the heaving stopped, Tinyclaw narrowed his eyes and looked back. Darkstripe had hopped onto the tree behind him and was just stabilizing himself.

"Watch it!" Tinyclaw hissed.

Darkstripe narrowed his eyes. "You watch it!" he growled. "Get moving!"

Tinyclaw rolled his eyes and turned back around. He began edging his way forward again and it dawned on him that no cat would want to go through this hassle to get to a Gathering – it would take half the night to get the Clan across! Elders and queens couldn't make the trip, for sure.

This is pointless, he decided. The only reason I'm doing so well is because of all the practice I got going to feed RiverClan. That tree had been thicker, but was still just as rickety.

He walked until the tree tapered so thin he couldn't place his paws anywhere. The tree swayed beneath him and Tinyclaw sat there, crouched, judging the distance he had left. Twigs and branches lay between him and the opposite shore, some even in his way. He sighed – no cat could make that leap.

"We need to -" he began.

"Tinyclaw, look out!"

Before Tinyclaw could question, the tree gave a violent jerk beneath his paws. With so little room to hold on to, Tinyclaw swayed with the tree until he felt air beneath his paws. It was only for a brief moment, the air – and then his body hit the water.

He could hear yowling as his head sank beneath the waves.