Chapter 26

"Feathertail!"

The light gray tabby jumped to her paws, her heart stuttering as Cedarheart rushed to greet her. She rubbed her cheek against his, drawing in his sharp, familiar scent as he began to lick her ears.

"I was afraid you wouldn't be able to make it," Feathertail finally mewed, her voice soft with concern.

"Tigerstar himself couldn't stop me." Cedarheart unsheathed his claws, his pale green eyes cold as he mentioned his leader. "I was furious when he didn't choose to take me to the Gathering. I was hoping I could finally introduce you to my apprentice."

"About the Gathering… It's not true, is it?" She searched his eyes for the answer she wanted, but the fishy edge to his scent told her all she needed to know.

Cedarheart nodded grimly. "It's awful," he muttered. "He's taken the warrior code and discarded it like piece of crowfood." The warrior's thick hackles bristled. "He treats every cat like a piece of prey in some game he's playing—he doesn't even care that the elders we've left in ShadowClan's camp are starving!"

Feathertail's eyes grew wide with horror, and Cedarheart shook his head, his normally piercing eyes dull with anguish. "I'm sorry, Feathertail, forget I said that. Tigerstar would flay me if he knew I was making ShadowClan sound weak."

The lithe warrior forced herself to nod, and pressed herself close against Cedarheart in an attempt to comfort him. "StarClan won't allow this to continue," she murmured softly. "They can't."

After a moment, Cedarheart stepped away. "I have to be going now," though his words were businesslike, his tone betrayed his regret towards leaving her side. "I'll see you again soon, I promise."

Feathertail touched her nose gently to his, a delicate contact between jet black and pale pink. "Promise." She echoed, watching as Cedarheart turned and climbed the slope from Fourtrees into RiverClan's territory. She turned towards her own territory slowly, despising every step she took away from him. I'd better hunt on the way back…

A brisk wind ruffled Feathertail's fur as she padded back to camp. It had gotten colder suddenly, as if StarClan had sent leaf-fall early as an omen about what was happening in the forest. She carried her chaffinch and mouse with her head down, guilt and disappointment pricking at her paws. She hadn't been able to see Cedarheart since the day after the Gathering—and that was a quarter-moon ago. He had made it clear that TigerClan wasn't as great as it had been made to sound at the Gathering, and Feathertail feared for his safety so much it made her chest ache. Her fear for Cedarheart was tempered only by her fear for her own Clan. She knew Tigerstar wouldn't give up on this ideal, but it was impossible to tell what lengths he would go through to achieve it.

Is it though? A small voice mewed in the back of Feathertail's head as she deposited her prey. He's a murderous traitor who defies everything the Clans stand for. The pretty she-cat shivered.

"Feathertail?"

A tiny meow drew the young warrior's attention, and she looked to see Petalkit and Honeykit staring at her over the fresh-kill pile. Petalkit was much larger than Sandstorm's younger kit; Feathertail imagined it wouldn't be long before Brightheart's remaining two kits would be apprenticed. Remembering the fond look Cedarheart always got when he spoke of his apprentice, Smokepaw, Feathertail couldn't help but to wish she would be given one. She wasn't blind though; she was certain that Cindercloud had been promised one of the two she-kits, and Brambleclaw and Tawnypelt were older and both more than ready for their first apprentice.

"Hello," Feathertail purred. "Hungry?" I am, she realized absent-mindedly.

"We're getting something for the elders," Honeykit squeaked. "Petalkit said that if I bring them fresh-kill they'll tell me better stories!" The pale ginger kit scooped up a pair of mice as she spoke, charging off towards the elders den and leaving Petalkit to squeak a farewell and chase after her. Feathertail watched them warmly. As she took her chaffinch from the pile, she was acutely aware of Sandstorm's amused gaze and the knowing glance she shared with Brightheart.

Have I got a feather stuck to my face? Feathertail tried not to pay them any mind, but as she finished eating, she realized that it was the second time she had eaten since waking up, and it was barely sunhigh. She distinctly remembered when they had watched Sorreltail the exact same way.

Understanding struck her like a blow.

Feathertail buried the bones of her meal quickly, feeling as if the forest was spinning beneath her paws. It can't be… She staggered through the fern tunnel to Yellowfang's den, hoping to find Hailpaw. To her dismay, only Yellowfang occupied the clearing.

"Where's Hailpaw?" The gray tabby choked out.

Yellowfang looked up, her yellow eyes darkening with concern. "You shouldn't get so tense," the old medicine cat rasped. "It's bad for the kits."

"Kits?" Feathertail swayed on her paws.

"What about kits?" Hailpaw dropped the herbs he had been carrying as he emerged from the fern tunnel and saw Feathertail. His ice blue eyes grew as wide as the full moon. Yellowfang looked back and forth between the two cats for a moment.

"Are they yours?"

"No!" Feathertail shook her head firmly. "Hailpaw is like a brother to me."

Yellowfang snorted, but her eyes were soft and filled with humor. "Apparently his littermate isn't."

Feathertail opened her mouth to object hotly, but Hailpaw cut in quickly, "It seems so." He kept his voice light. "Did you come to ask for advice on how to tell him?"

Yellowfang blinked sympathetically at Feathertail. "I see. I think I'll go find some fat to eat."

Hailpaw didn't speak until the ferns had stopped moving. He spun to face her, his eyes like frost. "Tell me they're not his. Tell me they're Foxtail's—or Brackenfur's—or Sootfur's—Feathertail please!"

The light gray tabby lifted her chin, though her paws trembled. "They are Cedarheart's."

"You mustn't tell him," Hailpaw shook his head as he spoke. "This has to end now, can't you see that? We'll have to tell Foxtail, since ThunderClan will assume that they're his, we…"

"We?" Feathertail felt rage seeping into her bones. "Who is we Hailpaw? These kits are mine. Mine and Cedarheart's. You have nothing to do with this."

Hailpaw's eyes darkened in pain. "Feathertail, don't be like that… I haven't told any cat. Not because I didn't want to, but because you're like a littermate to me. You're as much my sister as Foxtail and Stormfur are my brothers. I couldn't betray you if I tried. Please, let me help you."

Feathertail measured his words carefully, before finally bowing her head. She thought of Cedarheart, and of the love for him that burned so strongly in her veins. "If you want to help," she murmured, "Then stay out of it."

Hailpaw didn't get a chance to respond as furious hissing erupted in the clearing. Feathertail turned tail and rushed out to see what was happening, aware of Hailpaw following her. A cat was lying on the ground just inside the camp, his fur matted with dust and blood.

"What's going on?" Firestar shouldered his way through the warriors that had surrounded the wounded cat. Feathertail pushed her way into the group.

"We need help," the cat—Feathertail picked up WindClan scent under the blood—rasped. "Tiger… TigerClan is attacking out camp. They'll kill us all!" His eyes glazed over and he slumped into the dirt. Yellowfang shouldered her way through to see to the injured warrior, and Hailpaw joined her.

"We need two battle patrols," Firestar was announcing. "Graystripe will lead the first. Take Runningwind, Dustpelt, Foxtail, Tawnypelt, Swiftstep, and Feathertail—go now!"

Feathertail rushed after her father as he thrust his way through the thorn tunnel. She could feel Hailpaw's desperate gaze on her back, but she didn't dare look back. I can worry about it once we've saved WindClan!

The forest flew by as the battle-ready patrol charged towards WindClan's territory. Feathertail wanted nothing more than to sink her claws into an enemy warrior's shoulders, her fury at Hailpaw's reaction giving her strength.

"We're nearly there!" Graystripe called back over his shoulder as they pelted through the moorland.

Soon enough, Feathertail could hear the screeches and snarls of many fighting cats, and as the halted at the top of the hollow, she felt her blood turn to ice. TigerClan cats outnumbered WindClan's warriors three to one, and already Feathertail could see more than one lifeless body on the bloody ground. StarClan help us!

Graystripe let out a furious battle cry and dove into the WindClan camp. With vicous yowls of their own, ThunderClan's warriors followed their deputy into battle. Feathertail launched herself at a powerful RiverClan tom with smoky black fur, bowling him over and latching to his shoulders with her claws. The warrior snarled defiance and rolled over, knocking her breath out of her as she was flattened beneath his greater weight. She scrabbled desperately, biting into his shoulder and scraping her hind legs down his back until he began squealing in pain. Another pair of battling warriors bundled into them, and the smoky warrior tore free of her claws and vanished into the thick of the fighting. Feathertail jumped to her paws, seeking out her next opponent. Some of the TigerClan warriors had fled, but not nearly enough.

Feathertail was taken by surprise when another RiverClan warrior barreled into her. She ducked away and hissed a threat, swiping her paw out in a quick counter attack. The dark brown tom snarled as he dodged to the side and lunged at her. They were sent rolling with his momentum, and Feathetail fought to regain her balance first and pin the tom down. She clawed at his shoulders, but as they slowed he sank his teeth deep into her shoulder. The lithe tabby yowled in pain, struggling vainly. She only managed to flip onto her stomach as he pinned her and scraped his claws down her back. I have to do something! Panic crashed over her in an icy wave. I have to protect my kits! She redoubled her efforts, but blood loss and fear were making her dizzy and weak.

Suddenly, the weight above her lifted. She staggered to her feet to see that a WindClan warrior had fallen back against the cat that had been attacking her, and was now falling victim to his claws. She started after him to help only to be tackled to the ground again. A paw batted at her shoulder with sheathed claws.

"I'm your opponent," a voice hissed in her ear. "So act like it!"

Feathertail flipped beneath her attacker to see a painfully familiar pair of pale green eyes staring down at her. His usually sleek fur was ruffled and dull, and blood had stained the white ruff above his chest crimson.

"Cedarheart!" She longed to press her nose into his fur, but instead slithered out from under him as quick as lightning, taking a defensive stance as she faced him. He swatted half-heartedly at her, growling as he did.

"What are you thinking coming to this battle?" Though his paws were gentle, his eyes were as fierce as ever. "You're lucky I was here or Heavystep would have shredded you! I should shred you for making me worry!"

Feathertail flattened her ears. "I can take care of myself!" She hissed, letting her blows land more heavily.

"I know!" Cedarheart lunged at her again, rolling her away from another pair of cats as they fought viciously. "But that doesn't mean I don't worry!"

"I had to come," Feathertail insisted. "I needed to see you!"

"I told you I would see you as soon as I could," the ShadowClan warrior lowered his voice as their mock fight brought them close to the thick of the fighting. Now that Firestar's patrol had arrived the mass of fighting cats had pushed closer and closer towards the edge of WindClan's camp. "Couldn't it have waited?"

"No," Feathertail's voice was hardly as whisper as her clear blue eyes met Cedarheart's sharp green gaze. "I'm expecting your kits."