The autumn leaves drifted down from the red-and-orange oak trees, landing on Peartuft's broad back as the young warrior sniffed the air, tasting for any traces of prey in the forest. As the weather got colder, Flintstar was ordering more hunting patrols, to fatten up the fresh-kill pile and to give the warriors strength for leaf-bare. Peartuft could already feel the chills from the icy wind sinking deep inside his coat all the way to his bones.
As he climbed the rise towards the stream that marked the border with WindClan, he allowed his gaze to travel through the moorland. They had fought ShadowClan—when would they fight WindClan? Peartuft's claws slid out as he recalled the battle against ShadowClan that had granted him his warrior name.
He tried to push aside the seething jealousy he had felt when he saw his mentor allow Rootberry to take the lead on the attack. A growl rumbled in his throat. Why did it have to be Rootberry who found the ShadowClan cats? Why did he have to play the hero? Why did he have to show off by leading the ThunderClan cats in battle? It should've been me, he thought with a flash of anger. But he knew that Rootberry had done a good job when he had led the battle. But I would've done a better job!
There was no point crying over lost prey, though. Peartuft was proud that his brother had led a successful attack and that they had drove ShadowClan off—even if Peartuft was adamant that he could have done better. Peartuft would work as hard as he could to lead battles himself. I don't want Rootberry to rise up in the Clan without me. He allowed his gaze to study the moorland. When will Swiftstar attack?
Peartuft's claws itched the ground as he spotted a brown rabbit nibbling at a clump of grass near the streambank. He immediately dropped into a hunter's crouch and scaled the rise, using the foliage to conceal his body from sight. When he was a couple of mouse-lengths away from the rabbit, he used all the power in his paws to pounce from the ground and aim for the rabbit. The rabbit let out a squeal and hopped the stream. Peartuft scaled the stream with a massive leap and was on the rabbit's heels.
He ran as fast as he could until he grabbed the rabbit's bobtail in his mouth, yanking it back. He stepped on the rabbit's spine and slashed its throat with his claws. Embarrassment flushed through him as he realized what a messy kill it was, but at least he had got it. He held the rabbit in his jaws and glanced around. Oh, fox-dung. I'm on WindClan territory!
Holding the rabbit in his mouth, Peartuft precariously made his way through the stretch of moorland he had crossed over to the streambank. He leaped over the whirling waves with a massive jump and landed on the other side, letting out a massive sigh of relief. It was short-lived when he heard a snarl from behind him.
"Prey-stealer!" a voice howled. Peartuft spun around to stare at two WindClan warriors who stared at him from where they stood, across the stream. Peartuft recognized them from Gatherings—Thrushwing and Rabbitfur.
"It was on ThunderClan territory," Peartuft snarled at them. "That makes it ThunderClan prey."
Thrushwing's jet-black fur fluffed up. "You killed it on our land," he hissed. "That makes it WindClan prey."
"Are you going to fight for it?" Peartuft's voice was as smooth as honey.
"If we have to, we will." Rabbitfur dropped into a menacing crouch, his ears flattening as his bobtail lashed from side to side. "Give that rabbit to us! You stole it!"
"You want it?" Peartuft unsheathed his claws. This was his chance to show to his Clanmates that he was just as strong and skilled as Rootberry was! But taking on two at one time? He straightened his shoulders. I can do it.
Thrushwing let out a furious howl and leaped across the stream, landing straight onto Peartuft. Just as Thrushwing knocked him to the ground, Peartuft barreled his legs in Thrushwing's underbelly and sent him flying. The strength that surged through Peartuft's body gave him insurmountable confidence as Rabbitfur raced towards him. He slung his paws across Rabbitfur's face, slicing his skin open with his thorn sharp claws. Rabbitfur let out a howl of pain as Peartuft drove him towards the stream.
He heard a hiss behind him and realized that Thrushwing was getting to his paws. Peartuft turned on his heels—he was ready as the WindClan warrior lunged towards his throat. Before he could sink his claws in Peartuft's throat, Peartuft rose on his legs and brought down his front paws on Thrushwing's forehead, rendering him unconscious as he hit the ground.
"You have no honor!" Rabbitfur snarled as he launched himself at Peartuft. "You steal prey and cause fights! You dare call yourself a warrior? Is this what ThunderClan has turned to?" The gray-and-white tom's claws struck across Peartuft's flank, tearing the flesh open as blood splattered the WindClan cat's face. Peartuft winced at the burning flash, but he wouldn't show weakness—not in front of this scrawny rabbit-chaser.
"I have more honor than any WindClan warrior could ever have," Peartuft growled at the gray-and-white tom as he sent the skinny cat flying with a heavy blow from his front paws. Rabbitfur landed on the ground in a thump, groaning in pain. Peartuft padded over to him and pressed his claws against the sensitive skin of Rabbitfur's throat. "Leave. Now."
"This isn't over," Rabbitfur rasped. "ThunderClan will always be WindClan's enemy."
And you will always be mine, Peartuft thought as Rabbitfur wriggled from the gray tabby tom's grip. He bounded over to Thrushwing, nudging his Clanmate up. Thrushwing groaned as he scrambled to his paws, leaning against Rabbitfur's side as the two cats crossed the stream back to WindClan territory, their blood staining the forest floor beneath them.
Glory surged through Peartuft and he lifted his head. He felt as if he was floating on air—he had defeated two cats, single-pawed. He didn't need any help in battle. He had clearly proven himself a worthy enemy and a strong cat. ThunderClan had to know that. He picked up the rabbit in his jaws and padded back to the camp.
When he reached the stone hollow, the rabbit still hanging in his jaws, he spotted Sootfall standing in the middle of the clearing, the sun, at its highest peak in the sky, shining on his thick gray coat. Peartuft puffed his chest out, dropping the rabbit on the fresh-kill pile, and then padded over to the deputy. Sootfall stared at him with an arched eye whisker.
"What's wrong?" Sootfall asked him.
"WindClan cats trespassed on our land," Peartuft told the deputy.
Sootfall jumped to his paws, his fur bristling and his blue eyes glittering with anger. "What? When? And who?"
"Rabbitfur and Thrushwing," Peartuft told him. "They attacked me, but I sent them running for their lives back to WindClan territory. I don't think they'll be trespassing again."
The ThunderClan deputy tilted his head, curiosity sparking in his thoughtful gaze. "You drove off two WindClan invaders on your own?" he asked.
Peartuft extended his paw to show Rabbitfur the tufts of fur still caught between his claws. "Sure did."
"Well done, Peartuft." Pride glowed in Sootfall's gaze. "You're shaping up to be a fine warrior indeed. We must teach WindClan that we will not allow them to trespass in our land anymore."
"Will we fight?" Peartuft asked the deputy. If there was to be a battle, he wanted to lead it.
"I'm not sure," Sootfall said. "I'll have to talk to Flintstar. If you sent them a lesson like you said you did, then we may not have to worry about it until we detect them again." The tom twitched his tail towards Peartuft and climbed up the Highledge, disappearing in the shadows. Peartuft's paws itched, but he knew if they saw him standing around they would have questions that he wasn't prepared to answer.
He padded across camp, heading towards the medicine den. He wanted something for the scratch on his side. Just as he was about to push through the curtain of ferns, he spotted Rootberry walking out of the den, supporting Dovepaw. The silver she-cat's blue eyes were bright and she was moving with a strength almost akin to what she had before she was injured.
"Hey, Peartuft!" Rootberry's amber eyes glowed. "Look at how well Dovepaw is doing!"
Dovepaw's tail waved. "I can almost put my leg to the ground!" she exclaimed. "Ashenhawk says I'll be able to do light duties in half a moon."
"That's great," Peartuft meowed, watching how Rootberry gazed affectionately at the silver she-cat. "Maybe you'll be able to take your assessment after."
"It might take a bit longer," Dovepaw confessed, "but I'll still work on the exercises, to make my leg stronger!"
"Where are you going now?" Peartuft asked his black-and-white brother.
"I'm going to go help Dovepaw with her exercises out in the forest," Rootberry told Peartuft. "Want to come with?"
Peartuft couldn't think of anything less he'd rather want to do. He peered into the medicine den and couldn't find any sign of Ashenhawk's silver pelt. He let out a sigh and meowed, "Fine." Jealousy seethed his paws as he saw Rootberry nuzzle Dovepaw without a care in the world about how it looked. Why can't I have that with Snowpaw?
Snowpaw… She probably didn't even know he had his warrior name yet. He hadn't seen her or been to a Gathering since he got his name. As he followed Rootberry and Dovepaw out of camp, he felt his heart pound as he thought about Snowpaw's pure white face and her dazzling blue eyes. I miss her. I want to see her again. He gazed steadily at Rootberry and Dovepaw as their pelts brushed together. They're going to be mates the moment Dovepaw becomes a warrior, I'm sure. And yet I can't have Snowpaw to myself because she's in a different Clan. He dug his claws into the ground. Why can't I like someone in ThunderClan? Why did it have to be Snowpaw?
Because there's no cat like Snowpaw in ThunderClan. Peartuft didn't regret liking Snowpaw—not at all. She was smart, bold, and coruscating. If she was a ThunderClan cat, things would be so much easier… Could he possibly convince her to join ThunderClan? He wanted what Rootberry clearly was going to have—a romance with a cat he loved. As he watched Rootberry nudge Dovepaw in the side, Peartuft felt his nostrils flare. Was Rootberry trying to shove his fairytale romance in Peartuft's face?
Peartuft skirted around Rootberry. His brother had successfully led a battle when he was just an apprentice against the ShadowClan leader, had the full trust of his Clanmates, found a pure love in his own Clan. What did Peartuft have? A conflict he started with two scrawny WindClan cats?
What if Rootberry starts climbing up the ranks and I'm just known as second-best? he fretted. Flintstar has scolded me before. And unless he starts a battle with WindClan that I can lead, I don't think I can do anything yet that'll make him recognize me. He gazed at Rootberry. Sudden guilt pricked his heart. Why do I see my own brother as an enemy? He can't be. I promised to protect him, always.
But I want to prove myself to my Clan, just like Rootberry did. I need to find out if Sootfall talked to Flintstar about WindClan. "I'll be right back," Peartuft told Rootberry, doubling back towards the stone hollow and climbing down the trail. The wound in his side throbbed as he searched for the ThunderClan deputy. He saw the gray tom climbing down the Highledge, his pelt melting into the rock.
Peartuft approached him. Sootfall's ears twitched in surprise. "Are you going to attack ThunderClan?" he asked.
Sootfall's blue eyes narrowed in suspicion. "I've told Flintstar and he wasn't happy," he said slowly, "but he doesn't think it's bad enough to send a full-scale attack patrol to WindClan." He tilted his head. "Why? Is that what you wanted?"
Peartuft lifted his head and gazed at his deputy steadily in the eyes. "I'm willing to do what it takes to protect my Clan," he said firmly.
"That doesn't mean starting battles unnecessarily." Sootfall's gaze didn't waver from Peartuft's.
"They were trespassing!" Peartuft exclaimed.
"And I believe you," Sootfall meowed, "but you sent them away. There's no need to attack again unless they come back on our land. If they do, we'll discuss it again."
"If?" Peartuft asked. "They will, and you know it."
"Maybe." Sootfall shrugged his broad shoulders. "But for now, we won't attack, and that's that." He whisked his tail, turned on his heels, and strode across the camp, towards Falconheart and Oakfire. Peartuft watched the deputy go, his tail twitching irritably.
Would he ever get his chance to prove his loyalty in battle to ThunderClan? He had driven off the two WindClan warriors, but no one had seen it. He had fought in the ShadowClan battle, but everyone had praised Rootberry instead. Why was he second-best?
He wanted to show ThunderClan that he was strong in battle, that he was loyal to his Clan. In the time of war, the only way he could do that was in battle. Starting a battle wouldn't be the most loyal thing to do, but ShadowClan or WindClan would head for them inevitably. He had to be ready when they were.
After all, he was a ThunderClan warrior, and his loyalty was only to them.
A chill ran down his spine. What about Snowpaw? a voice asked him, one that sounded strangely like Coalshadow. You like her, but you say your loyalty is to ThunderClan. Which one is it?
For the first time, Peartuft did not have an answer to that question.