Squirrelflight's Hope

by Erin Hunter

  “You deserve to be happy too.” Leafpool’s eyes rounded with sympathy.

  “Bramblestar’s angry with me, and I’m probably going to die without having more kits.” Squirrelflight could feel herself sinking into self-pity, but couldn’t stop. “I don’t know if I’ll ever be happy again.”

  Leafstar plucked another marigold stalk out with her teeth. “I’m not sure that’s true.”

  “But it’s how I feel.” Squirrelflight glanced back toward the stone hollow. “Bramblestar says he’s wondering whether he should replace me as deputy. And he’s making up rules to test me. He doesn’t trust my judgment anymore.”

  “He just needs time to calm down.” Leafpool straightened and padded toward Squirrelflight. “He was really worried when you went missing. He thought you might be dead.”

  “Everything I do seems wrong at the moment. He tried to be kind to me just now, when Sparkpelt told us her news, and I snarled at him.” Squirrelflight felt suddenly as heavy as stone. “And he’s right. I shouldn’t have gone off without telling him. But I just wanted to make him see that there’s a way to stop the Clans fighting over land. And Sparkpelt . . .” Her shoulders sagged. “I hope she didn’t see that I was upset. I’m happy for her, I really am, but it was hard to hide how I—”

  Leafpool pressed her muzzle against Squirrelflight’s cheek. “It’s okay, Squirrelflight. You don’t have to be perfect all the time.” She purred softly, and Squirrelflight felt her pain ease as the warmth from Leafpool’s cheek seeped into hers.

  Squirrelflight drew away, suddenly appreciating her sister more than ever. She was still sympathetic, even after so much loss. “I can only imagine how hard it must have been for you all these moons. You’ve had to watch so many Clanmates having kits after you had to give your own away. While I was raising Jayfeather, Lionblaze, and Hollyleaf, and loving them as if they were my own, I never fully understood how much it must have hurt.”

  Leafpool met her gaze steadily. “I’m grateful you risked so much to make sure I didn’t lose my place as medicine cat. And in a way, we raised them together. I was always there for them, and I could see them and take care of them.”

  Squirrelflight thought of Moonlight. We are each mother to all the young. “That’s how the Sisters raise their kits. Each cat is mother to every kit, and sister to her campmates,” she told Leafpool. “In the Sisters, no cat would have made you choose between your kits and being a medicine cat. There are no rules saying who can and can’t have kits.”

  “But we’re not with the Sisters; we’re Clan cats.” Leafpool’s gaze hardened. “And no cat made me choose. I did what I thought was best.” Her mew was suddenly brittle, and Squirrelflight knew that she’d touched a nerve. “There’s no point imagining that it could have happened any other way. I did what I did, and it’s no use regretting it. My bond with StarClan was too strong to think about giving it up.” She narrowed her eyes. “Do the Sisters share with their ancestors?”

  “I don’t know. Moonlight mentioned ancestors, but I don’t think they share with them like we share with StarClan. They were descended from kittypets, after all.”

  Leafpool huffed. “How can they even begin to understand the bond we have with StarClan and the sacrifices we make to honor it? There’s more to being a medicine cat than knowing a few herbs or how to cure bellyache. I doubt these Sisters know what a prophecy is, and, from what you say, they are too busy living in the moment to think about what lies in their past or their future.” She sniffed. “I wouldn’t ever want to live like that.”

  Squirrelflight dipped her head. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything. It was just strange to see other cats living so differently.” Squirrelflight couldn’t help feeling that it might be nice to live in the moment, instead of being weighted down with rules and ancestors and traditions. She shook out her fur. “But the Sisters will move on soon, and SkyClan can have their land.”

  “If StarClan approves,” Leafpool meowed sharply.

  “Of course.” Didn’t Leafpool ever feel restricted by Clan rules and traditions? “Have you shared with them yet?”

  Leafpool’s gaze darkened. “They’re still quiet.”

  “Perhaps they’re okay with SkyClan moving.”

  “Perhaps.” Leafpool looked unconvinced. “But until we have word, it’s best that SkyClan doesn’t make any decisions.”

  “Even if it means peace within the Clans?”

  “StarClan knows best.” Leafpool returned to the marigold patch and plucked out another stalk. Squirrelflight saw her ears twitching. She was clearly unnerved by StarClan’s silence, and talk of the Sisters hadn’t helped.

  If only StarClan would share with her. They could let her know that it would be good for SkyClan to move to new territory. They might even know if Squirrelflight was destined to have more kits. Leafpool’s words flashed in her mind. Don’t rush so much, Squirrelflight. Stop trying to sort out every problem at once. Perhaps her sister was right. If she just waited, Bramblestar would get over his anger and they’d have more kits together, the Sisters would move on and SkyClan would find a new home, and the Clans would live in peace.

  It was pointless trying to guess what the future held, because no cat knew. Squirrelflight looked up through the branches at the afternoon sky. Does StarClan know what will happen? A shiver ran down her spine. If they did, they weren’t giving anything away.

  CHAPTER 8

  Larksong slid past Squirrelflight and lifted his gaze, his mouth open. “There’s a squirrel nest up there.”

  Branches twitched overhead, and leaves flickered in the sunshine that streamed through the canopy. Squirrelflight pricked her ears as she saw gray fur flash high in an oak. A fluffy tail bobbed along a branch, followed by another.

  Blossomfall stopped beside her, following her gaze. She swished her tail. “It’s too high up.”

  “I see it!” Mousewhisker looked into the branches, his pelt fluffing with excitement.

  Larksong padded closer and peered up the trunk. “It’d be simple to climb.” Sturdy branches jutted from the trunk of the oak tree. The bark was gnarled, easy to sink claws into.

  “Let’s leave the climbing to SkyClan.” Squirrelflight beckoned Larksong back with a flick of her tail. She didn’t want Larksong to risk such a long climb. Sparkpelt was with them, and she’d be uneasy seeing her mate hunting prey high overhead.

  In the days since Sparkpelt had told her parents she was expecting kits, she and Larksong had been inseparable. Larksong had come to Squirrelflight, asking to be assigned to the same patrols as Sparkpelt. Squirrelflight was touched by their protective love for each other, but it made her feel the loss of Bramblestar’s affection even more.

  She still shared Bramblestar’s den and followed him up to the Highledge each night, settling self-consciously into the nest beside his. Without speaking, they both knew the importance of hiding the depth of the rift between them. The Clan must not know how divided their leader and deputy were, although Squirrelflight couldn’t help thinking it must be obvious; she and Bramblestar hardly spoke to each other, and were formal when they did, and they never patrolled or hunted together anymore.

  “Squirrelflight.” Larksong’s mew jerked her back to the present. “I can smell something strange.” The black warrior’s pelt was bristling along his spine. “It smells familiar, but I’m not sure what it is.”

  “It’s a rogue!” Mousewhisker uncurled his claws. Blossomfall glanced around the forest. Larksong moved closer to Sparkpelt.

  Squirrelflight tasted the air, stiffening as a scent she knew well bathed her tongue. The Sisters. What were they doing on ThunderClan territory? “Wait.” She nodded to Mousewhisker, hoping she’d find the Sisters first. Surely they hadn’t come to fight? Padding quickly ahead, she scanned the trees, her tail twitching as she glimpsed white fur moving through ferns. She hurried toward it, recognizing the pelt. “Snow?”

  Snow turned her blue eyes on Squirrelflight. Squirrelflight could see panic s
parking in the she-cat’s gaze.

  “Who is it?” Blossomfall stopped beside Squirrelflight.

  “It’s Snow,” she told her. “She’s one of the Sisters.”

  Mousewhisker caught up to them. “What are you doing on ThunderClan land?” he snarled at Snow.

  Blossomfall cut in. “She shouldn’t be here.” The tortoiseshell flattened her ears as Larksong and Sparkpelt reached them.

  Sparkpelt blinked at Snow in surprise, then looked at Squirrelflight. “Why’s she here?”

  “She’s trespassing on our land,” Blossomfall growled.

  Squirrelflight looked at Snow. “Why have you come here?” she asked gently.

  “I was looking for you,” Snow mewed. “You said you have medicine cats. They might know what to do. Sunrise needs help. She’s been wounded.”

  Squirrelflight tensed. “Is it bad?”

  “It’s not our problem.” Blossomfall curled her lip.

  Snow kept her gaze fixed on Squirrelflight. “Can one of your medicine cats come and see her? She’s not far from here.”

  Why had Sunrise been wounded so close to their territory? Squirrelflight shifted her paws uneasily. Blossomfall’s fur was already bristling. She wouldn’t be pleased if Squirrelflight treated this trespasser too kindly. “I’m not sure there’s anything I can do.”

  “But your medicine cat might know, right?” Snow looked at her imploringly.

  Squirrelflight hesitated. What would Bramblestar say if she helped the Sisters? Surely he wouldn’t deny help to a wounded cat. And yet he’d been so angry that she’d found the Sisters in the first place. If he knows Snow was looking for me, he might accuse me of bringing them here.

  “Let’s just take a look at the wounded cat.” Larksong padded to Squirrelflight’s side. “It might not be as serious as Snow says. We can patch her up and send them on their way without bothering the rest of the Clan.”

  She looked at him, wondering. If they could fix this themselves, it would save questions about why the Sisters had been on their land. She frowned. But Bramblestar was bound to find out. The patrol would have no reason to keep this a secret. And yet she couldn’t turn her back on an injured cat. She flicked her tail. “Show us where she is,” she told Snow. “If I think she needs help, I’ll send for our medicine cat.”

  “It might be a trap!” Blossomfall’s hackles lifted.

  Squirrelflight turned on her. “I know these cats well enough to know they won’t hurt us.”

  Mousewhisker narrowed his eyes. “Are you sure? They held you captive, don’t forget.”

  “They didn’t harm me.” Squirrelflight nodded to Snow. “Let’s go.”

  Snow led the way past the ferns and followed a rabbit trail through brambles. She crossed a dried streambed and ducked beneath a juniper. On the other side, she halted.

  Squirrelflight scanned the forest ahead. Where was Sunrise? “I don’t see her.”

  Sparkpelt and Larksong stopped beside her, glancing nervously between the trees.

  Mousewhisker padded toward the bushes, which lined the slope ahead, and sniffed them warily. They quivered, and he recoiled in surprise, arching his back as Sunrise, Tempest, and Hawk slid out.

  Blossomfall darted to his side, teeth bared. “I told you it was a trap!” Even with her pelt bushed, the Sisters were far bigger than her.

  Tempest blinked at her in surprise. “Why would we trap you?”

  “How should I know?” Blossomfall bristled.

  Tempest ignored her and looked hopefully at Squirrelflight. “Have you come to help?”

  “If we can.” Squirrelflight could smell blood and saw that Sunrise was leaning heavily on Hawk. The yellow fur on her flank was stained red.

  Larksong padded around the Sisters, his ears twitching. “What happened?”

  “We got into a fight with some toms.” As Hawk spoke, Sunrise collapsed to the ground.

  Alarm sparked through Squirrelflight’s pelt. There was no way they could fix this themselves. Sunrise needed a medicine cat.

  “Should we fetch Alderheart?” Mousewhisker blinked at her.

  “It would take too long,” Squirrelflight told him. This was more serious than she’d imagined. “Let’s carry Sunrise back to camp.” She nodded to Snow, Hawk and Tempest. “You can go home. We’ll take care of her.”

  Snow stiffened. “We’re not leaving her.”

  Sparkpelt looked anxiously at her mother. “We can’t let them all come to the camp.” She leaned closer, lowering her voice so the others couldn’t hear. “Bramblestar wouldn’t be happy. He already thinks you’re too quick to defend the Sisters.”

  “And he’s right to be cautious.” Blossomfall fluffed out her fur. “Don’t forget what happened when ShadowClan took Darktail and his friends in.”

  “Darktail had always planned to destroy the Clans. He wasn’t wounded when ShadowClan found him,” Mousewhisker pointed out. “This cat really needs our help.”

  “Her friends aren’t wounded,” Blossomfall argued. “Why do they need to come?”

  “To make sure our campmate is okay,” Snow mewed. “We’ve met your Clanmates, remember? They weren’t exactly friendly.”

  “We’ll take care of her,” Larksong promised.

  Tempest lifted her chin. “We’re coming with her.”

  Sparkpelt whispered in her mother’s ear. “Bramblestar won’t like it.”

  Squirrelflight pulled away, her heart quickening as blood spread wider over Sunrise’s flank. “We have to help them.” Flesh showed where the wound opened. She couldn’t let a cat die. She’d deal with Bramblestar later. After all, things couldn’t get any more strained between them, surely. It was a risk she’d have to take. “You’ll have to carry her,” she told Hawk and Tempest. She nodded to Larksong and Mousewhisker. “You can help.”

  She stood back as the toms ducked down and tucked their shoulders beneath Sunrise. Hawk and Tempest jerked their campmate up with their muzzles. Sliding beneath her, the four cats heaved Sunrise onto their backs and then, pressing together, began to head for camp. Sparkpelt walked close to Larksong’s side, while Blossomfall circled the group uneasily as it made its way toward the streambed.

  Squirrelflight padded ahead, scanning the forest to find the easiest route. Snow fell in beside her as she led the way up a gentle rise where the trees grew so thickly that the brambles had died away. She looked back as she reached the top. Tempest and Hawk walkedslowly, their gazes dark with concentration as they carried their campmate. Mousewhisker and Larksong pressed close, matching the Sisters’ steps paw for paw. Sunrise lay limply across their backs. “We have to hurry.”

  As Squirrelflight picked up the pace, Sparkpelt caught up to them. “Sunrise is still breathing, but only just.”

  Squirrelflight kept her gaze on the trail. “We’ll get her home in time.” She hoped it was true.

  “Alderheart will know what to do,” Sparkpelt mewed.

  “I didn’t know if you would help.” Snow blinked gratefully at Squirrelflight. “But I had to do something. We were so far from home.”

  “What were you doing here?” Squirrelflight returned her gaze. “You’ve never trespassed on Clan land before.”

  Snow’s eyes darkened. “You’re not the only Clan cats who are suddenly interested in the land we’re using.”

  Squirrelflight’s belly tightened. “What do you mean?”

  “Yesterday, we smelled Clan scent on our side of your border,” Snow explained. “Hawk thought you’d sent a patrol back, but you’d promised to leave us alone. Then Moonlight noticed that it was a different Clan scent and sent me, Tempest, Hawk, and Sunrise to investigate.”

  Sparkpelt pricked her ears. “Do you know which Clan it was?”

  Snow shrugged. “Warriors all smell the same to me. We followed the scent into the pine forest that borders yours.”

  “ShadowClan!” Sparkpelt glanced at her mother. Why were they suddenly interested in the Sisters’ land? Squirrelflight’s pelt prickled unea
sily. Had her suggestion at the meeting woken ShadowClan’s curiosity about the land outside their border? Perhaps they wanted to check the land out for SkyClan too. Foreboding dropped like a stone in Squirrelflight’s belly. Were they planning to take the land for themselves?

  Sparkpelt blinked at Snow. “Is that how Sunrise got injured? Fighting with ShadowClan?”

  Snow nodded. “We tracked two toms across the border and followed them into their territory. We stopped them and asked them what they were doing there. They attacked us.”

  Squirrelflight flicked her tail nervously. How would she explain to ThunderClan that Sunrise had been hurt fighting Clan cats? She pushed the worry away. The Sisters’ fight had been with ShadowClan, not ThunderClan. Until a few moons ago, ShadowClan had been their enemy. Why should ThunderClan defend them?

  “We hurt them pretty good,” Snow meowed with obvious satisfaction. “But one of them—Stonewing, I think that’s what the other cat called him—managed to slice open Sunrise’s flank before they ran away.”

  Sparkpelt’s eyes glittered with alarm. “Should we help cats who hurt ShadowClan?”

  Squirrelflight lifted her chin defiantly. “We’re not ShadowClan’s protectors. Besides, the Sisters were defending themselves.”

  “But Tigerstar won’t be pleased if he finds out.”

  “Why should we behave without honor just to suit Tigerstar?” Squirrelflight returned Sparkpelt’s gaze.

  “Is that what Bramblestar would say?”

  “Sunrise could die from this injury. If Bramblestar is more interested in pleasing ShadowClan than saving another cat’s life, then he’s not the cat I thought he was.” Squirrelflight could see the camp in the distance. She glanced back at the others. “We’re nearly there.”

  As she spoke, the bracken rustled ahead. Rosepetal and Bristlepaw burst out. They pulled up a tail-length from Squirrelflight, their eyes widening.

  “What’s going on?” Rosepetal looked past her to the Sisters.

  “We found a wounded cat in the forest,” Squirrelflight told her. “She needs our help.”