Half a moon passed since Bluefeather's kits were born, and the entire Clan was excited to have new kits, especially since these kits were Lionstar's kin. Tigerkit and Lizardkit boasted that they weren't the smallest kits in the nursery and would be apprenticed soon. Talonclaw had been surprised when Birdpaw asked him to help with the kitting—he was a warrior, not a medicine cat. But the task she had given him was painfully easy—all he had to do was lick some kits until they were moving. He had been thankful to StarClan—and to Birdpaw—when he had seen the kits suckle peacefully at their mother's belly. When the last kit was stuck, he had been terrified, and even moreso of Birdpaw's seemingly-violent method to get the kit move, but at the end of the day, Birdpaw had saved the life of the kit.
Talonclaw was with Robinwing as they stretched their arms and arched their backs. They were to serve as the partners for Hawkpaw and Eaglepaw on their final assessment. Cloudsong had told him that he would ambush Eaglepaw while he was bordering the territory, and Robinwing would do the same to Hawkpaw. The assessment for Leafpaw and Owlpaw was being carried in another part of ShadowClan territory, but Talonclaw could only hope they would pass. He had faith in Eaglepaw and Hawkpaw—they had been working twice as hard since Talonclaw and Shrewfur had become warriors.
The chilly winds of leaf-fall brushed against Talonclaw's dark tabby pelt and a shiver ran through his spine. He studied Robinwing, wondering why she looked so gaunt, or why her eyes looked so cloudy. Even her breathing was rough. Was she all right? She even seemed to be wavering on her paws as she stretched out her back legs. Talonclaw cleared his throat before he spoke.
"Robinwing, are you all right?" Talonclaw asked. He hadn't spoken to Robinwing much—he just hoped she didn't have the same fire that her mate did. But there was something about the brown she-cat that worried him.
"I'm fine," Robinwing growled, her eyes flaring with impatience. Talonclaw flinched. "I'll be better when this is all over."
Talonclaw paused, unsure if he should take that answer to heart. Robinwing didn't look fine. But if she was so insistent on saying she was, then Talonclaw would let her. I'll just keep an eye on her, though. He gave her a brief nod, and Robinwing turned her head around, flexing her claws so they sank in the frost-bitten ground. Talonclaw sniffed the air and caught a trace of Eaglepaw's scent. My cue! He flicked his tail to Robinwing and melted into the shadows as he followed Eaglepaw's trail.
He slipped through the forest, using the shadows of the pine trees to conceal his movements when he finally caught a glimpse of Eaglepaw's mottled light brown pelt. The tom was stalking a mouse, his shoulders squared and his ears flattened. His tail twitched and he dropped into a hunter's crouch. He waited a moment, and then another. Then he bunched his hindquarters and leapt from the ground, landing on top of the mouse and dispatching it with a blow to the neck. Talonclaw was impressed with how clean the kill was. He sheathed his claws, remembering that Cloudsong didn't want the fight to be fierce. He just wanted to know how Eaglepaw would react to a trespasser in their territory.
Flexing his shoulders, Talonclaw decided to test Eaglepaw. He brushed purposely against a fern, creating a rustle from the plant. Eaglepaw's head immediately shot up as he turned to stare at the fern. Suspicion flared in his yellow eyes as he approached the bush, and Talonclaw slipped away so he could circle around Eaglepaw. Finding another patch of ferns, Talonclaw used the fragrant plant to disguise his own scent. Eaglepaw's tail twitched nervously and he unsheathed his claws.
Talonclaw leaped from the bush with a massive jump. Eaglepaw looked up and dropped down, rolling over and leading Talonclaw to crash into the ground. Talonclaw grunted in surprise as Eaglepaw leaped on top of him, pushing him to the ground. But Talonclaw wasn't going to let Eaglepaw win so easily. Talonclaw churned Eaglepaw's belly with his back legs, and Eaglepaw grunted but didn't let go. Talonclaw decided to kick instead, and that was what unbalanced Eaglepaw. The dark tabby warrior scrambled to his paws and lashed his paw out at Eaglepaw. Eaglepaw caught his blow in seconds and wrestled with the tom until they both hit the forest floor in a blur of writhing flashes of brown fur.
"Enough!" That was Cloudsong's voice. At the senior warrior's bark, the two cats split apart and looked up as the white warrior emerged from behind a pine tree. His blue eyes glowed with pride as he gazed at Eaglepaw. "Well done, Eaglepaw. Even though Talonclaw tried to trick you with his scent coming from that bush and he cornered you, you still knew the enemy could be anywhere."
Eaglepaw licked his paw and drew it over his ear. "Does that mean I passed?" he asked.
Cloudsong flicked his tail. "I'll have to discuss that with Lionstar. Now go grab the prey you've caught and meet me back in camp."
"Yes, Cloudsong." Eaglepaw dipped his head and glanced at Talonclaw. "No hard feelings?"
"Of course not," Talonclaw said, tousling his friend's head with his dark paw. "I was supposed to ambush you. That was part of your assessment."
Eaglepaw let out a hearty purr and disappeared into the pine forest to collect his catch. Talonclaw suddenly remembered Robinwing and how he had planned to keep an eye on her. He sniffed the air, trying to make out her scent. Traveling to where they had stretched in preparation for their ambushes on the two apprentices, he caught her presence. Her scent trailed towards the northeast of their original spot, and he squared his shoulders as he recognized the tinge of illness in it. She really is sick! Realizing there was no time to waste, he followed the sickly stench until it grew stronger and stronger. At the tail end of the scent, he saw a bundle of brown fur, collapsed on the ground in a heap. Over it was Hawkpaw.
As Talonclaw arrived, he looked up at the dark tabby warrior with his yellow eyes stretched wide. "I didn't mean to hurt her!" he exclaimed, panic in his voice. "She jumped on me and all I did was roll over! Then she couldn't get up!"
"It's not your fault," Talonclaw told the dark brown apprentice, although inside he wondered if Hawkpaw striking a blow at her aggravated her condition. "She's sick. She should be in the medicine den, not here. Bring her to camp, Hawkpaw. I'll go ahead and let Stormbrook know."
Hawkpaw nodded as Talonclaw helped drape Robinwing's thin body across his back. When Robinwing was secured, Talonclaw bounded through the forest, straight towards the ShadowClan camp. He hoped that Hawkpaw would get back in time, before Robinwing's condition became worse. When Talonclaw saw the ShadowClan camp inching closer and closer, he squared his shoulders, and with a massive leap he plunged himself into the hollow. He tore through the defenses, knowing just how bad it was for Lionstar's mate—and his own Clanmate—to be so ill that she had collapsed. The dark tabby warrior tried to shake away his worries and headed towards the medicine den. Stormbrook was in front of it, drying out herbs with the weak leaf-fall sun.
"Talonclaw?" Stormbrook looked up, arching an eye whisker. "What's the matter?"
"Robinwing collapsed," Talonclaw told him.
"What?" Stormbrook leaped to his paws. "Where is she?"
"Hawkpaw is bringing her back to camp," Talonclaw explained. "We were preparing for the assessment of Hawkpaw and Eaglepaw—one of the aspects was ambushing them. When we were stretching, I noticed that Robinwing wasn't looking too well. Her breathing was rough and she looked like she was shaking. I asked her if she was all right, and she said she was fine. When I finished helping Eaglepaw, I tracked her scent and found her with Hawkpaw. Hawkpaw said that she leaped on him and he rolled over with her, and then she wouldn't get up."
"Dear StarClan," Stormbrook murmured, shutting his eyes. "I'll take it from here, Talonclaw. If you could get me some soaked moss for her, that'd be a big help." The medicine cat did not wait to hear Talonclaw's response as he stuck his head in the medicine den and shouted, "Birdpaw! Robinwing is ill. Make a nest for her."
Talonclaw heard his sister mew in response. He turned on his heel and padded over to the elders' den, tucked in a small yew bush that was lined with brambles. Next to the den was a small puddle that the medicine cats used to gather water from, and the elders were able to drink. Talonclaw poked his head in the elders' den to see Shiningheart and Dewshine sharing tongues.
"Is it okay if I take some moss?" Talonclaw asked them.
Shiningheart twitched her ears. "Why?" she growled.
"Don't be so rude," Dewshine meowed, elbowing Shiningheart. "Of course it's all right to take some moss, Talonclaw."
Talonclaw gazed steadily at Shiningheart. "Robinwing is sick, and she needs water as soon as possible. It's just quicker for me to get it in camp."
Shiningheart's golden eyes shadowed. "Robinwing is sick?" she echoed. "Lionstar won't take to that very well. They were mates ever since Lionstar was a young warrior. He was chasing after her even when he was an apprentice."
Talonclaw paused as he clawed some moss from an unused nest. "Really?" he asked, looking up to meet Shiningheart's gaze. "I didn't know that."
"Oh, yes." Dewshine nodded, his eyes taking on a far-away look, as if he were lost in memories. Talonclaw remembered that Dewshine and Shiningheart had both served Lionstar closely until they retired to the elders' den. Even now, Lionstar turned to them for advice. "If there's one thing Lionstar may care about more than his Clan, it's Robinwing."
"If she dies, it will destroy him," Shiningheart muttered ominously. Talonclaw stiffened at her tone.
"Shiningheart!" Dewshine scolded his denmate, flattening his torn ears. "Don't say that. You know that Robinwing is a strong warrior. She would never let Death take her without a fight."
"You may be right," Shiningheart meowed, shifting her weight on her side and tucking her paws underneath her belly. "Since you're taking that moss from us, Talonclaw, you better come back later with more."
"I will," Talonclaw promised. He dipped his head in thanks to the two elders and rolled the moss into a ball. He left the den and dropped the moss ball in the puddle next to their den until it was dripping with water. Grasping the moss ball in his jaws, he padded to the medicine den, searching for Stormbrook. The rank stench of illness that wafted from the den told Talonclaw that Robinwing was inside.
He poked his head into the den, seeing the she-cat stretched out in her nest. Birdpaw was sitting next to her, her green eyes shadowed with worry. Robinwing's breath was coming in gasps as she coughed relentlessly, bringing up phlegm with her. Birdpaw placed a paw on the brown she-cat's head and frowned as she looked up to meet her brother's gaze.
"She has a very high fever," Birdpaw murmured.
"That's bad, isn't it?" Talonclaw asked when he dropped the moss ball next to Robinwing. Birdpaw nodded and took the soaked moss from him, pressing it close to Robinwing's mouth to encourage her to take a drink. Robinwing moaned in protest, leaving Birdpaw to grit her teeth in frustration. A screen of brambles rustled in front of a gap in the bush, and Stormbrook appeared with a leaf wrap hanging in his jaws.
"Is that the water?" Stormbrook asked. "Thank you, Talonclaw." He paused, his amber eyes shadowed. "I'm sorry to put something else on you, but do you think you can tell Lionstar about Robinwing?"
"Sure," Talonclaw replied. "What exactly do I tell him?"
Birdpaw glanced over at Stormbrook. "Do we know what it is?" she asked.
Stormbrook shook his head. "No." He gazed steadily at Talonclaw. "Just tell him that Robinwing is sick, and that Birdpaw and I are trying everything we can in our power."
"Do I…" Talonclaw's voice trailed off. "Do I tell him that you won't let her die?"
The two medicine cats exchanged nervous glances. Birdpaw looked away, and Stormbrook cleared his throat. "Tell him I said we will do everything we can." His voice was curt, indicating that there was no room for argument. Talonclaw dipped his head to the medicine cat. He cast one more glance at Robinwing, and the stench of illness in the den was so rancid that it took everything in his power to not wrinkle his nose in disgust. Oh, Robinwing, Talonclaw thought. You must get better. He left the medicine den and watched as the Clanmates who weren't on patrol discuss the scene they had witnessed—Hawkpaw running into the camp with Robinwing on his back.
"Do you think Robinwing will be all right?" Icefire was asking Snowsplash.
Snowsplash's lips were pressed in a straight line. "She's not a young cat."
Fallensnow flicked his white-speckled tail in blatant irritation as he turned on his heel and growled at the two she-cats, "How dare you discuss Robinwing as if she's already dead?"
Icefire and Snowsplash exchanged an uncertain glance and turned away from Fallensnow. Fallensnow snorted and stalked away from them. Hawkpaw was crouching in the shadows of the apprentices' den, his eyes clouded with fear as they focused on the worried expressions of the ShadowClan cats. Talonclaw frowned and padded over to Lionstar's den.
"Lionstar?" Talonclaw called out.
"He's not here." Instead of Lionstar, it was Featherheart who replied. The gray-furred tom appeared from the shadows, his blue eyes piercing as he looked Talonclaw up and down.
"Do you know where he is?" Talonclaw asked.
Featherheart tensed his shoulders. "He's on a hunting patrol with his precious Sparrowflight."
Precious Sparrowflight…? "Do you not like my father?" Talonclaw asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Oh, did I say that?" Featherheart lashed his tail. "I didn't mean to. It's not like Lionstar values my opinion over his, anyway."
He's jealous of Sparrowflight! Recognition flickered inside of Talonclaw as he recalled all the venomous glares Featherheart had shot at him. He's jealous of Sparrowflight, and that means… he's jealous of me, too, since I'm Sparrowflight's son, and I'm joining Lionstar as one of his generals. Talonclaw felt the fur on the back of his spine fluff up, and he was seconds away from spitting an insult at the gray tom when Featherheart said, "He's here."
"What?" Talonclaw looked over his shoulder to see the big golden tabby tom. Lionstar's green gaze bore into his skin, and he sat down, wrapping his bushy tail around his paws. Quickly, Talonclaw dropped into a bowing position as he lowered his head to his leader.
"How did Eaglepaw do on his assessment?" Lionstar asked.
"He did well," Talonclaw said, quickly explaining how he had tried to trick the mottled tom but how the apprentice had seen right through his plan and wasn't deceived. "Lionstar, I have something to tell you."
"What is it?" Lionstar tilted his head. "If Eaglepaw did as well as Leafpaw and Owlpaw did, I only have to find out how Hawkpaw did before we have four new warriors. So whatever you say should be important."
Oh, it is, Talonclaw thought as the wind billowed Lionstar's thick tabby fur. "Robinwing is ill," he told his leader stiffly. Lionstar flinched as Talonclaw went on. "She collapsed in the middle of Hawkpaw's assessment. Hawkpaw brought her back to camp, and she's in Stormbrook's den right now. Stormbrook told me to tell you that he will do everything he can for her."
Lionstar twitched his ears, and Talonclaw couldn't read what was in those green eyes of his. Finally, he said, "Can I see her?"
"I guess," Talonclaw replied, flicking his tail. "Stormbrook let me in, after all."
Lionstar turned on his heel and walked away, trotting across camp and disappearing into Stormbrook's den. Talonclaw glanced over to look at Featherheart, whose face was an expressionless mask. There was no sign of sympathy, but there also wasn't any sign of hatred or triumph that Robinwing was sick. Why would it matter to him, anyway? It was Sparrowflight—and Talonclaw—that he disliked. Not Robinwing. Talonclaw had nothing to say to the gray-furred warrior as he left Lionstar's den and settled near the fresh-kill pile. He took a mouse and headed over to the center of camp to eat it. A familiar scent rustled near him, and Talonclaw glanced up to see Mapleheart.
Mapleheart dropped a shrew next to him. "Mind if I eat with you?" she asked, already sitting down and tucking her paws under her chest.
"Seems as if you've answered that question for yourself," Talonclaw replied, adding a joking tone to his voice so the tortoiseshell she-cat didn't think he was genuinely offended. Mapleheart purred in amusement and took a bite out of the shrew. She chewed slowly before opening her mouth to speak.
"I heard you and Hawkpaw were the ones that found Robinwing," Mapleheart said carefully.
Talonclaw nodded.
"Cloudsong says that they're going to be made warriors anyway," Mapleheart went on, "so the Clan isn't distracted with what happened to Robinwing."
Talonclaw looked up to study the setting sun. "It should be soon, then," he remarked. He paused, remembering how Fallensnow had snapped at Icefire and Snowsplash when they discussed Robinwing's state. "Do you think Robinwing will be all right?"
"Of course she will!" Mapleheart meowed, looking up at Talonclaw as if he had said something foolish. "She's the strongest she-cat in the Clan. Surely you know that?"
"Of course I do," Talonclaw meowed, feeling sheepish. Mapleheart's confidence was infectious, and he found himself starting to feel a lot better than he had when he first saw Robinwing unconscious. He took a bite from his mouse, tasting the flavors of the forest as he chewed his prey. "You're right, Mapleheart. She is strong. She'll be fine."
"I'm glad you finally came around, fur-brain." Mapleheart reached over to lick Talonclaw's ear, sending a shiver through the dark tabby tom's body. He glanced up, feeling as if he could drown in the deep green depths of Mapleheart's eyes. He recalled her father's hatred of both him and Sparrowflight, but Mapleheart and Featherheart were two different cats. Mapleheart clearly felt different about him than Featherheart did. Maybe, just maybe, if Mapleheart and I become closer, Featherheart won't hate me.
Talonclaw touched his nose to Mapleheart's and purred, pushing the worries of the day to the back of his mind. He was sure that everything would be all right. Just like Mapleheart said, Robinwing was a strong she-cat. His former denmates were going to earn their warrior names. What could go wrong?