Chapter 24

Tinyclaw hopped confidently across the stepping-stones. Water lapped near his paws, but the raging floodwater that had terrorized his dreams had all but receded, and now the river between ThunderClan and RiverClan territory was just a little higher than normal. The day after Silverstream's kitting the sky was drizzling and gray, as if it were mourning the loss of her kit.

As Tinyclaw landed on the opposite bank, he dropped into a low crouch. He was here on RiverClan territory to deliver news of what had happened yesterday to RiverClan, knowing that they must be worried for Silverstream. RiverClan had a right to know – but Tinyclaw knew that no cat would have allowed him to do this on his own. He hadn't wanted to come off as a threat, so he'd come alone.

He opened his jaws to look for fresh scents and, almost at once found one. Tinyclaw prowled forward into a bed of reeds and found that there was a small, dark-pelted cat inside. He was little, his fur still soft – barely an apprentice, Tinyclaw guessed. Yet when Tinyclaw hissed for his attention he drew himself up and bore his teeth like a warrior.

Then, his eyes widened in recognition. "Y-You're Tinyclaw, aren't you?" he wondered. "I saw you at the last Gathering. What're you doing here?"

"I need to speak with Tawnypelt," Tinyclaw explained. "It's important."

The apprentice hesitated, and didn't move.

"I'm not here to fight or spy," Tinyclaw assured him. "I just need to speak to Tawnypelt – then I'll be gone."

The apprentice hesitated a moment more before nodding at Tinyclaw and padding away. Tinyclaw settled himself down as the dark-pelted apprentice disappeared. He wondered how long it would take for him to find Tawnypelt – hopefully it would be before the rest of the apprentice's patrol found him.

It felt like forever until Tawnypelt appeared – but there she was, shouldering aside the reeds with her wide, stocky build. Tinyclaw swallowed in shock – now that he knew the truth of her parentage, there was no mistaking that Tigerstar was Tawnypelt's father. Their pelts weren't the same, no, but it was there in the shape of her head and the curve of her shoulders. It was there in the way she raised her head at Tinyclaw, her eyes burning into him.

"What are you doing here?" she wondered. "Is this about Silverstream? She hasn't been seen since yesterday, and Crookedstar is beside himself!"

Tinyclaw nodded and meowed, "It is."

Tawnypelt's eyes widened with worry. "Well?" she demanded. "How is she? Where is she? Did some of your warriors catch her over there, or something?"

Tinyclaw took a deep breath. "Silverstream kitted on our side of the river," he explained. "It was… bad. Bloody – but we managed to save her. She lost one of her kits, though, and she's really weak. She's staying in ThunderClan until she recovers."

Tawnypelt's eyes were wide with shock. "Mudfur…" she murmured. "Mudfur warned her not to do anything too strenuous…" The dappled she-cat sat down, still stunned. A moment later she asked, "You say she lost one of her kits?"

Tinyclaw nodded solemnly. "There was nothing we could do for him," he replied. "He was born dead, and Brackenpaw thinks it's because the kits came too early. The other two are fine, though, and they're nursing with one of our queens until Silverstream can do it herself. Graystripe named the lost one Icekit; he's buried just by our side of the river."

The queen lowered her head in sorrow. "I know what it's like to almost lose my kits, but to really lose one…" She shuddered, then lifted her head. Her eyes were full of relief. "It's good to know that Silverstream is safe, though. She is, right? Your Clan haven't tried hurting her?"

Tinyclaw shook his head. "Tigerstar wouldn't allow it," he meowed, "though the Clan isn't exactly happy to have her." Just this morning he'd heard some cat whispering about how Silverstream was just going to reveal all of ThunderClan's secrets to RiverClan. It took all he had not to claw them.

Tawnypelt swallowed and decided, "It's better than her being dead, I suppose." She touched her muzzle to Tinyclaw's and meowed, "Thank you for risking yourself to tell me."

"You deserved to know," Tinyclaw told her.

Tawnypelt nodded and got to her paws. "You ought to head back before you're missed," she meowed. "Or before a patrol finds you."

Tinyclaw nodded in agreement. He murmured good-bye to the tortoiseshell queen and turned away from the reeds, heading for the river.

It was wrong for me to cross into their territory, he told himself as he crossed the stepping-stones, but they deserved to know.

A noisy stomach – his own – roused Tinyclaw two dawns later. Peering through the dim light of the den, Tinyclaw noted that Graystripe was missing. Gone to see Silverstream, he thought as he got up. Well, at least it's on this side of the border…

Tinyclaw stretched and slipped outside, into the clearing. Two dawns had passed since Silverstream had kitted, and no cat seemed keen to speak with Graystripe. Only Tinyclaw and Cinderpelt dared to step close to the gray warrior, and all around there were vicious whispers about Silverstream, who still lay recovering in the medicine cat's den.

All around Tinyclaw had expected to see cats sharing tongues on this warmer morning – but the clearing was all but empty. Graystripe's affair had shook the Clan to the core, making them mistrustful and short-tempered. There was a dark cloud hanging over the camp, and Tinyclaw felt its oppressive atmosphere clinging to his pelt like greenleaf humidity.

He shook out his pelt, determined not to let it get to him, and padded towards the fresh-kill pile. Before he reached it a familiar voice called his name:

"Tinyclaw, Tinyclaw!"

Tinyclaw turned and found Cloudkit barreling towards him on her bright white – and one ginger – paws. Tinyclaw side-stepped her eager pounce, only to have her gnawing on his tail a moment later. Tinyclaw wrested himself from her grip and asked, "What's going on?"

"I'm going to be an apprentice!" Cloudkit grinned, waving her plumy tail. "Right now!"

Tinyclaw's eyes widened in shock, and he looked about for someone else to confirm this for him. Sure enough Brindleface was approaching, Tigerstar by her side. Ashkit and Fernkit followed their mother more slowly, their eyes dark with a sibling's jealousy.

"An apprentice?" Tinyclaw questioned them.

Tigerstar nodded, "Yes," he meowed. "Cloudkit is six moons old."

"But what about…?" Tinyclaw glanced at Cloudkit's foster siblings.

"They still have some room to grow," Brindleface answered. "Cloudkit was born around the same time… but she's grown into herself quite a bit!"

"You'll mentor her, of course?" Tigerstar wondered. "I'm sure she'd have no one else, and you did a good job with Cinderpelt, though she wasn't yours."

Still reeling, Tinyclaw nodded. "O-Of course!" he replied.

"It's about time you had another apprentice," Tigerstar agreed, nodding his head. The big cat turned away and headed for the Highrock. Tinyclaw looked after his leader, stunned by the praise. Tinyclaw still felt so horrible about failing Brackenpaw – but now that Brackenpaw had his place Tinyclaw feared he might never get another apprentice. It seemed like that was changing.

Cloudkit nudged Tinyclaw out of his thoughts. "I'll be the best apprentice ever," she insisted. "I'll listen to everything you say, and I'll be a better warrior than anyone, you'll see!"

Tinyclaw looked at her, stunned at her growth. She'd grown upwards and outwards, and was now just below him in height. Soon she'd surpass him and be much taller. Tinyclaw was proud of this little kit, recalling her small and sickly roots. She would be a warrior to be proud of, for sure.

Yet she's arrogant, Tinyclaw thought concernedly. She doesn't seem to respect much. It'll be hard to teach her the warrior code and what it means.

Cloudkit padded off to the Highrock, her tail high. Brindleface turned to Tinyclaw and nudged him.

"Yes?" he wondered.

"It's Graystripe," Brindleface sighed. "I know he means well, but when he's not seeing Silverstream he's in the nursery, pestering Bluefur about the kits. You know how Bluefur is… it won't be long before her patience gives out."

Tinyclaw flicked his tail concernedly. "I'll see what I can do," he decided. He padded past Brindleface and headed for the nursery. He knew Graystripe's heart was in the right place, but if he annoyed Bluefur too much she might turn the kits away, and then where would they be?

The nursery was warm and Tinyclaw spotted Graystripe near the far end, staring down at his kits with wide, awestruck eyes. Bluefur was curled around them, keeping them in place with one hind leg. Her blue gaze was unreadable. Bluefur's own kits were pestering Speckletail at the back of the den, chatting about Cloudkit's impending ceremony.

"Graystripe," Tinyclaw meowed, drawing close.

"Look at them!" Graystripe purred, not looking away. "They're so lovely!"

Tinyclaw stooped over the kits, acutely aware of Bluefur's eyes boring into him. "They are beautiful," he decided. They were small and squirmy, but one was a deep, dark gray like Graystripe and the other was a pale silvery color like Silverstream. Certainly kits to be proud of.

"Better than he deserves," grunted Speckletail from the back of the den.

Graystripe ignored her. He looked at Bluefur and asked anxiously, "A-Are you sure they're all right? They're small…"

"They were born only a few days ago," Bluefur answered tightly. "They'll get bigger as they get older – so please, stop asking me."

Tinyclaw sensed the anger bubbling in Bluefur's tone. Tinyclaw nudged Graystripe and meowed, "Come on – Cloudkit's being made an apprentice."

Graystripe looked up, eyes wide. "Yours?" he asked.

Tinyclaw nodded.

Graystripe's whiskers twitched. "Alright, let's go!" he decided. He got to his paws, but he didn't leave before giving each of his kits a warm-hearted lick. The two left the nursery to the cries of Bluefur's kits complaining about not being able to attend the meeting.

Outside the Clan had gathered, and it seemed like the ceremony had brought out a more friendly atmosphere. Tinyclaw and Graystripe passed Willowpelt, along with Runningwind and Mousefur. Willowpelt announced, her eyes bright, "I'll be having kits!"

Tinyclaw blinked at her as Runningwind and Mousefur congratulated her. Tinyclaw wondered who might be the father – and then he spotted Whitestorm not far away, looking proudly at Willowpelt. It seemed like no matter what happened, Clan life just… went on.

With Graystripe by his side, Tinyclaw made his way to the front of the crowd. The Clan kept a pace away from Graystripe, but the dark gray warrior seemed to ignore the Clan's uneasiness. The two settled at the front of the crowd. Cloudkit sat before them, her head raised proudly.

"Cats of ThunderClan," Tigerstar announced when all were gathered, "we have some important business to take care of today. Firstly… many of you have asked me what Graystripe's punishment will be. His actions broke the warrior code, and punishment is due… and I have decided what will be done."

The Clan fell quiet. Graystripe shivered beside Tinyclaw, but he knew this day would come.

"I cannot say much for Silverstream," Tigerstar decided, "as she is not ThunderClan; her punishment will be decided by Crookedstar. However, Graystripe… I have thought carefully on this."

Please don't be too harsh, Tinyclaw begged inside. After all… you got away with it, too!

"You have lost a kit," Tigerstar meowed. "That, I think, is punishment enough. What can any cat do to you that is worse than that feeling?"

Tinyclaw breathed a sigh of relief – but the rest of the Clan was outraged. Yowls and spits and hisses rose from the crowd, and shouts of "Drive him away!" or "We don't want him here" rose from their Clanmates. Graystripe stood stock still, his eyes unreadable.

Tigerstar's roar rose above it all, "When you all become Clan leader, these decisions will be yours to make! But none of you are leader – I am; and I have made my decision."

That silenced the crowd. They settled into an uneasy muttering, and Tinyclaw sighed.

Tigerstar went on, his amber eyes burning, "However, Graystripe… for three moons you will not attend a Gathering. Not necessarily to punish you, but to ensure your safety from angry RiverClan cats who would seek justice of their own for what you've done."

Graystripe meowed, "Thank you."

"Don't thank me," Tigerstar meowed sternly. "You've broken the warrior code, Graystripe, and that will take a long time to forgive. Work hard, and one day you might make a fine mentor for those kits."

Graystripe brightened at that, but most of the Clan scowled. It was clear they had wanted a harsher punishment, but Tigerstar's word was law. Tinyclaw's whiskers twitched – they would just have to deal with this.

"Now," Tigerstar meowed, "on to happier duties! Cloudkit has reached her sixth moon, and is ready to become an apprentice."

Tigerstar leaped down from the Highrock and approached Cloudkit. His striped tail flicked, summoning Tinyclaw forward. Tinyclaw obeyed, standing just beside Cloudkit – and recalling how, not long ago, he'd done the same thing with Brackenpaw.

This time will be different, he decided, glancing at his niece.

Cloudkit managed to hold still, but Tinyclaw could feel her tail trembling. Tigerstar meowed, "Tinyclaw – you are ready for another apprentice, and Cloudpaw is your niece. You will be her mentor."

Tigerstar went on, "Tinyclaw you know what it is like to be one of us, yet not born amongst us. I trust you will teach Cloudpaw all she needs to know to become as great an asset to ThunderClan as you have become."

"I will," Tinyclaw murmured, taken aback by the praise yet again.

He turned to Cloudpaw and touched his nose to her's. Cloudpaw trilled with happiness, "Cloudpaw!" she mewed. "I'm Cloudpaw!"

Tinyclaw stepped away and allowed the Clan to congratulate her – but it was not quite as momentous as other ceremonies. Most of the Clan hung back, muttering and whispering while side-eying both Cloudpaw and Graystripe… and even Tinyclaw himself. Yet Cloudpaw was not without a welcome – the elders paid special attention to her, cheering her name and promising to share fresh-kill whenever she came by.

Sighing, Tinyclaw glanced at the Clan. Would they ever really accept him, or Cloudpaw, even after all this time? Pointedly, Darkstripe passed by and snarled in disgust, "Traitors and kittypets! Is there no decent cat left in this Clan?"