by Erin Hunter
Firestar headed for the Great Oak and climbed onto one of the snow-laden roots. The RiverClan cats drew closer to one another like fish bunching into a shoal. Dovepaw eyed them warily and padded closer to Blossomfall.
“What’s spooking them?” Blossomfall hissed.
“Who knows?” Dovepaw stared at her paws.
The bracken behind her crunched, and she turned to see WindClan flooding into the clearing. She bristled, surprised that they were here already. She’d lost track of them while she’d played on the ice. They filed around ThunderClan, hardly making eye contact. Breezepelt’s gaze grazed Dovepaw’s but quickly jerked away.
Dustpelt was pacing. “I’ve never heard it so quiet.”
“Isn’t anyone going to share tongues?” Squirrelflight gazed around, puzzled.
The ShadowClan patrol came last, tense and round-eyed. Dovepaw spotted Tigerheart’s dark brown ear tips. He didn’t look around for her, but stayed in the knot of his Clanmates. Dovepaw felt a jab of frustration. How could things change so quickly? Each Clan was acting like it was at war with the others. Was it StarClan who had sown the seeds of mistrust, or the Dark Forest warriors?
“It’s so cold; we must be quick!” Mistystar called from the lowest branch of the Great Oak. Firestar sat a little farther along the branch, Onestar and Blackstar stiff as owls beyond him.
RiverClan and WindClan gathered closest to the tree. ShadowClan hurried to take its place beside them. Dovepaw followed her Clanmates as they padded into a pool of moonlight and settled down to listen. She nosed her way past Rosepetal and Blossomfall, seeking the warmth of the crowd and settling between Thornclaw and Lionblaze.
Mistystar, huddled in the moonlight, looked like a small pool of silver. “It’s a tough leaf-bare, and with the lake frozen in the shallows, hunting has been hard.”
Nightcloud growled. “It makes a change for the fish-eaters to go hungry as well.”
Mistystar pressed on. “The bad weather has not kept us from training, and we are thankfully free of sickness.”
Onestar stood. “WindClan too is healthy, though rabbits are scarce and the snow is thick around the camp. We have improved our tracking skills and found a way to trace prey to its burrows.”
He nodded to Blackstar, who stood and gazed down at the gathered cats for several long heartbeats. “Rowanclaw has become ShadowClan’s deputy,” he announced at last, appearing to choose his words carefully. “We still mourn the loss of Russetfur. It was not her time to die.” He didn’t look at Firestar, but went on, “Hunting has been hard, and Littlecloud has been ill. But I’m pleased to report that we have found a remedy, and he will be here with us next full moon.”
Murmurs of approval rose from the ShadowClan cats. Dovepaw felt Thornclaw tense beside her and heard Lionblaze’s claws scrape the snowy ground.
Firestar stood up. His gaze was fixed on Blackstar. “And how did you find that remedy?” he challenged. Dovepaw heard breaths quicken and paws shift as the Clans tensed around her. Firestar didn’t wait for an answer. “You took one of our apprentices hostage, that’s how.”
There were muffled gasps from RiverClan and WindClan warriors.
“She was on our land!” Blackstar hissed.
“And you would have been within your rights to chase her off,” Firestar shot back. “But what true warrior takes a cat, too young to defend herself, and bargains with her like she was prey?”
Blackstar bared his teeth as Firestar pressed on. “A true warrior would have the courage to ask for what he wants.” The ThunderClan leader arched his back. “You’re lucky we didn’t strike back more harshly. We’ve beaten you once already this moon. Don’t think we wouldn’t do it again.”
Blackstar smoothed his fur. His eyes were slits. “Whatever happens,” he breathed, “ShadowClan will be ready.”
“We’re ready now!” Rowanclaw jumped to his paws, pelt bristling, at the bottom of the tree. Crowfrost and Smokefoot stood up beside him and glared into the crowd, their eyes fixed on the ThunderClan warriors.
Lionblaze curled his lip, and a growl rasped in Squirrelflight’s throat. Dustpelt flattened his ears. Gulping, Dovepaw unsheathed her claws. Were they going to fight here? She glanced at the bright, clear moon. There was no cloud in the sky to end the truce.
Dovepaw heard whispers spread through the Clans.
“Is this it?”
“Has the darkness come?”
“But the moon is still shining!”
That didn’t seem to matter. Every pelt was on end now. Eyes flashed in the moonlight as the warriors glared, half-wary, half-threatening, at the other Clans.
Mistystar got to her paws. “RiverClan! We’re going home.” She leaped down from the oak and led her Clan through the bristling warriors. Onestar jumped down after her, Blackstar following. They took their Clans out of the clearing in silence.
Dovepaw watched as Firestar scrambled down last from the oak. At the far side of the clearing, the bracken rattled and hissed as the Clans pushed their way through it.
I must speak to Tigerheart!
She raced after the departing cats, finally spotting the tip of his tail. She clawed at it, just scraping the tuft at the end, and he turned and glared at her.
“What?”
“We have to talk!”
His eyes softened. “Come on.” He guided her to a quieter spot, where the stiff bracken stems gave way to snow-covered mounds of grass. “Sorry I couldn’t talk to you before, but things are tense,” he murmured.
Dovepaw scowled at him. “You told Blackstar about Jayfeather’s herbs!”
He gazed steadily back at her without saying anything.
“How could you?” Dovepaw wailed. “If Sandstorm dies, it’ll be your fault!”
“But Littlecloud’s sick.”
“So is Sandstorm!”
“Not with greencough.”
Dovepaw’s rage grew. Tigerheart sounded so reasonable. Didn’t he understand what he’d done? Tigerheart stroked her flank with his tail, and she flinched.
He frowned. “If Jayfeather were a true medicine cat, he would have given us the herbs.”
“He has to put his own Clanmates first!”
Tigerheart tipped his head to one side. “So do I.”
Dovepaw felt sick. She wanted this conversation to stop now, but she had to know. “Even above me?”
Tigerheart’s tail quivered. “I didn’t mean it like that.” His amber eyes grew round. “I just—”
Dovepaw cut him off, her mew barely a whisper. “I think you did.” She turned and padded away. “I think that’s exactly what you meant.”
Chapter 23
Ivypaw curled into her nest. Snow swished and paws shifted as her Clanmates pounded out of camp and headed for the island. She tucked her nose under her paw.
I’m doing it to be a better warrior! She closed her eyes. I’m doing it for my Clan!
As sleep slid around her, she opened her eyes. She was in the Dark Forest. She tasted the air, scenting nothing beyond the sourness of the earth and the reek of mold on the trees. “Hawkfrost?” Her mew echoed through the trees. She needed to see his face. He wants me to be a great warrior, that’s all.
She padded along a mossy trail. The warmth of soil felt strange against her paws after the sting of snow. The trees parted, and the slimy river rolled in front of her. With a flicker of satisfaction she remembered dunking Darkstripe beneath the water with Hollowpaw.
She followed the dark water for a few paces before spotting light through the trees. She veered onto a path that wound deep into the forest. The light glowed stronger, and she quickened her pace. Thick trunks reared up more tightly around her. Ivypaw kept her gaze fixed on the light. As she neared it, she realized that it glowed from a strange gray fungus, which sprouted from the tree trunks and crowded between their roots. Was the fungus reflecting the moon?
Ivypaw strained to see the round white moon. It must be full here too, right? But the branches grew too thickly overhea
d. There was no sign of sky or moon. The branches began to clatter, though no wind stirred the forest. A shiver ran along Ivypaw’s spine. Don’t be silly. She pressed on.
With a rush of relief, she heard voices and hurried forward. Beyond the clustering trunks, Tigerheart and Tigerstar were talking.
“You’re late.” Tigerstar sounded angry.
Ivypaw pricked her ears to hear Tigerheart’s reply.
“I had to go to the Gathering.”
“Training is more important.”
She ducked behind a tree and peered through the shadows. Tigerstar circled Tigerheart. “Don’t you know who your real Clanmates are yet?” he growled. “Don’t I deserve your loyalty more than those mouse-eaters?”
Ivypaw stiffened. Was Tigerstar trying to turn Tigerheart against ShadowClan?
She heard a thump. Tigerheart groaned. Ivypaw slipped forward, ducking behind the next tree before peeking out. Tigerstar had Tigerheart pinned to the ground.
“That’s the same mistake you made in the battle with ThunderClan,” Tigerstar sneered before letting Tigerheart go.
Tigerheart scrambled up. “What did I do wrong?”
“Don’t watch my paws.” Tigerstar lunged forward, as if to knock the ShadowClan warrior’s hind legs out from under him. Tigerheart bucked, flicking his back paws high and out of the way, but Tigerstar twisted faster. While Tigerheart avoided the lunge, the dark warrior nipped the young warrior’s scruff between his teeth. He dragged him off balance, and Tigerheart landed with a thump on his side.
“Never forget that paws fight, but jaws kill,” Tigerstar growled, backing off.
Tigerheart jumped up. “I won’t,” he panted.
“Lionblaze knows that,” Tigerstar snarled. “That’s how he killed Russetfur. If you can’t match those ThunderClan weaklings, you are nothing.”
Ivypaw gasped. Tigerstar lied to me! He’s not loyal to ThunderClan at all! Tightness gripped her chest, and she struggled to steady her breathing. He’s been telling Tigerheart the same things he’s been telling me. He hasn’t been training me to help ThunderClan at all.
“When the final battle comes”—Tigerstar was still talking—“wasting time at Gatherings won’t help you. It’ll be us against four Clans and their puny ancestors. Then we’ll see who the real warriors are.”
Ivypaw fled. She raced through the forest, the trees blurring on either side. This must be the battle Flametail had seen in his vision. This was why Hawkfrost had recruited her.
She wasn’t special.
She was stupid.
Tigerstar didn’t want to help ThunderClan. He wanted to wage war against the Clans. And he was using their own warriors against them!
Gasping, Ivypaw stumbled to a halt. The river blocked her path, sliding silently before her. How do I get home? She blinked and blinked again.
Wake up! Wake up!
“Are you okay, little one?”
For a moment Ivypaw imagined she was back in the nursery, Daisy murmuring over her. She snapped open her eyes and saw Mapleshade. The orange-and-white warrior was gazing at her with a mocking gleam in her eyes.
“Leave me alone!” Ivypaw hissed.
“Are you having a bad dream, dear?” Mapleshade sneered.
Ivypaw shrank from Mapleshade’s stinking breath. “Why don’t you just fade away to nothing?”
Mapleshade flexed her claws. “Oh, I’m not going anywhere until I’ve settled a few scores.”
Ivypaw forced herself not to start shaking. “I . . . I was looking for Hawkfrost.”
“He’s busy.” Mapleshade moved closer. “He wanted me to train you tonight.”
Ivypaw swallowed. “Really?”
“Let’s try out those river moves you learned last time.” Heart sinking, Ivypaw gazed at the river.
“Show me what you learned,” Mapleshade ordered before she turned and waded out into the water.
Ivypaw forced herself to follow. The water oozed around her paws and dragged at her pelt.
“Am I deep enough yet?” Mapleshade asked. The water was lapping the warrior’s shoulders. Ivypaw had to follow on tiptoes to keep her nose above the water. “Now what happens?” Mapleshade prompted. “Come on, you must remember your lesson.”
“I have to knock your legs from under you.”
“Go ahead then, dear.”
Get it over with quickly. Ivypaw took a breath and ducked under, gagging as the warm, slimy water washed her muzzle. She swam down toward Mapleshade’s paws and reached out to grab them. A heavy weight hit her back and pushed her deep into the water, till her chest bumped onto the riverbed. Ivypaw struggled as the blood roared in her ears. Mapleshade had her pinned down. The great she-cat’s claws pierced Ivypaw’s pelt, pressing her harder against the stones.
Ivypaw writhed on the bottom of the river, bubbles escaping her mouth. Mapleshade was pushing the air from her chest. She fought wildly, kicking out with her legs, hoping to knock Mapleshade away. Ivypaw’s lungs screamed. Blackness edged her vision. She fought the urge to suck in water.
Then her flailing hind legs struck a rock. It budged, barely the width of a whisker. Ivypaw flailed again, harder. The stone shifted, then gained speed. Mapleshade’s paws shifted as the rock rolled away. With a mighty shove, Ivypaw pushed upward, wrenching herself free as the she-warrior lost her balance.
Desperate for air, Ivypaw forced herself to stay beneath the water. She struck out with her paws and began swimming underwater as far from Mapleshade as she could. As the riverbed sloped up, she followed the curve, emerging from the water on the far bank. She slithered onto the mud, gulping for air.
Glancing over her shoulder, she saw Mapleshade splashing around in the river, searching the riverbed with floundering paws. Low as an otter, Ivypaw crept up the bank and slunk between the trees. When she was sure the shadows hid her, she collapsed, panting, onto the ground and coughed up a lungful of black water. Exhausted, she closed her eyes.
“Ivypaw?”
Dovepaw!
She looked up, relief swamping her as she saw the edges of her nest and her sister’s face peering anxiously over its woven stems. Early dawn light was beginning to filter through the ferns.
“Are you okay?”
Ivypaw coughed again, her chest burning. “Yes,” she rasped. “I’m okay now.” She never wanted to go back to the Dark Forest, not ever. “How was the Gathering?”
“I need to ask you something.” Dovepaw was looking anxious. The Clan was beginning to stir outside the den.
“What?”
Dovepaw leaned closer as Ivypaw sat up. “Tell me about Tigerheart again.” Her ears twitched. “Is he really training in the Dark Forest?”
Ivypaw lowered her gaze. “Yes,” she murmured. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” Dovepaw sighed. “I don’t think he ever loved me.”
Ivypaw jerked up her muzzle. “Don’t say that!”
Dovepaw shook her head. “You don’t understand.”
“I do!” Ivypaw leaped out of her nest and pressed against Dovepaw. “Tigerstar tricked him just like he tricked me!”
Dovepaw stared at her. “What do you mean?”
“It was all a lie—”
“Wait!” Dovepaw cut her off. “Lionblaze and Jayfeather need to hear this, too.”
Ivypaw stared at her sister. What was she talking about? What did they have to do with it?
“Just trust me.” Dovepaw nosed Ivypaw to her paws and jostled her out of the den.
Jayfeather was padding from the warriors’ den with a bundle of withered herbs in his jaws. He seemed to sense Dovepaw, because he turned his blind gaze on them and narrowed his eyes. Then he tucked the herbs under a stone by the den entrance and hurried over.
“Is everything okay?” he asked.
“We’re fine,” Dovepaw told him. “Where’s Lionblaze?”
“I’m here.” The golden warrior was bounding down the tumble of rocks from Highledge.
“We need to talk,” Dovepaw h
issed. She headed for the entrance with Jayfeather and Lionblaze on her tail.
What’s going on? There seemed to be as many secrets here as there were in the Dark Forest.
Dovepaw led them up the steep slope outside the entrance, forged her way through the drifted snow, and hopped over a fallen tree. The ground behind was clear where the trunk had held back the drift. Dovepaw crouched against the rotting bark as Jayfeather and Lionblaze settled beside her. Ivypaw balanced on the trunk for a moment before jumping down next to them. They huddled together, cocooned from the bitter wind.
“Go on, Ivypaw,” Dovepaw prompted. “Tell them.”
Ivypaw looked from Jayfeather to Lionblaze. Their pelts were pricking with expectation. She took a deep breath and began. “I’ve been visiting the Dark Forest in my dreams.”
“Tell us something new,” Jayfeather grunted.
Ivypaw blinked. “Tigerstar’s been training me,” she went on, trying to squash the butterflies leaping in her belly. “And Hawkfrost. They told me they wanted me to be a great warrior so I could protect my Clan.”
“And you believed them?” Lionblaze snapped.
Dovepaw turned on him. “Let her tell you!” she snarled.
Ivypaw glanced gratefully at her sister. “Tigerstar said that he was loyal to ThunderClan. That he’d been born ThunderClan and he’d never stopped feeling like a ThunderClan cat.”
Jayfeather was nodding slowly. “Okay.”
“I just wanted to be as good as Dovepaw,” Ivypaw explained. “I wanted to be so good that everyone would notice me, too.”
She was relieved to see Lionblaze’s gaze soften. “You’re a good apprentice, Ivypaw, and you’re going to make a fine warrior. Don’t try competing with your sister.”
Why not? The old jealousy sparked beneath Ivypaw’s pelt. What’s so special about her? “It’s over now. I know the truth. Tigerstar and his warriors are planning to attack all the Clans. They want to destroy us. I’m never going back to the Dark Forest.” She felt bone tired as tension eased from her muscles.
“How will you stop?” Jayfeather’s mew took her by surprise.
“Stop what?”
“When you go to sleep, do you choose to dream about the Dark Forest?” Jayfeather pressed.
