Crookedstar’s Promise

Chapter 33

The hollow around Fourtrees brimmed with moonlight. It silvered the Clans and bathed the Great Rock. Crookedjaw shifted his paws as he stood between the other deputies, his shadow huge on the stone behind him.

“Why did Hailstar make you deputy?” Adderfang hissed in his ear. “You’re not even ready to fight for your Clan.”

Crookedjaw swallowed back fury. He didn’t want his first Gathering as deputy to begin with a fight. Stonetooth, ShadowClan’s deputy, glanced at him from the corner of his eye. Reedfeather turned his back. Clearly the WindClan deputy still had not forgiven RiverClan for the theft of his daughters.

Crookedjaw scanned the crowd, looking for Oakheart. Where was he? He’d seemed so eager to come. Didn’t he want to see his brother named deputy in front of the other Clans? Disappointment sat in his belly like a stone. Willowbreeze had stayed in camp, unable to make the journey to Fourtrees because of a deep cut on one of her pads. She’d slipped off a rock while fishing for an oversized trout. The wound was healing well, thanks to Brambleberry, but she wouldn’t have been able to walk all the way to the Gathering. Shellheart hadn’t come, either. He was confined to the elders’ den, sick with a swelling in his belly. He’d begged Brambleberry to give him strengthening herbs so he could attend, but she had insisted he rest. Crookedjaw glanced up at Silverpelt. Perhaps Rainflower was watching.

Hailstar raised his voice above the swishing of the great oaks as he addressed the Gathering. “Shellheart retired to the elders’ den this moon.” The Clans murmured as the RiverClan leader paused. Crookedjaw lifted his chin, his heart racing. “Crookedjaw is RiverClan’s new deputy.”

“Crookedjaw! Crookedjaw!”

As his Clanmates called his name, Crookedjaw pricked his ears, praying the other Clans would join in. Relief washed over him as he heard ShadowClan join the cheer, WindClan and ThunderClan following.

“Crookedjaw!”

Joy fizzed beneath his pelt. They were cheering for him!

A pair of amber eyes flashed in the crowd. Thistleclaw was staring silently at him. Crookedjaw stiffened. He hadn’t been back to the Dark Forest since he’d realized it wasn’t StarClan’s hunting grounds, waking cold with horror every time he drifted close to a dream. How could he have been so dumb? He’d never go there again. He’d never talk to Mapleshade.

Why did she help me become deputy? The question had burned in his mind since that night. She can’t make me do anything I don’t want to do. He dug his claws into the warm earth. I’m going to be the best deputy RiverClan’s ever known. I’ll protect my Clan with my life if I have to.

Thistleclaw’s gaze still burned into his. He knows I was there. Thistleclaw nodded as if he knew what Crookedjaw was thinking. Does he think we’re allies?

Never!

Crookedjaw turned to Adderfang. Did ThunderClan’s acting deputy know that one of his warriors was training in the Dark Forest? Did Sunstar know? Perhaps the whole of ThunderClan was learning how to kill!

As the cheering died away, the leaders scrambled down from the Great Rock.

“Well done.” Hailstar landed beside Crookedjaw. He beckoned with a flick of his tail. “Come and meet—”

Crookedjaw interrupted him. “I want to find Oakheart.”

Hailstar cocked his head. “Is everything okay?”

“Everything’s fine. I’ll join you when I’ve found him.”

Crookedjaw pushed through the cats lingering at the foot of the Great Rock. The night was warm and the Clans seemed in no hurry to go home.

“Congratulations!” Hollyflower from ShadowClan ducked away from a knot of warriors. “One moment you’re a ’paw, the next you’re a deputy.”

Fallowtail stopped beside Crookedjaw. “I guess StarClan knows best,” murmured the RiverClan she-cat.

Hollyflower pricked her ears. “Was there an omen?”

“It was quite—”

“Not really.” Crookedjaw interrupted sharply, silencing Fallowtail. He didn’t want StarClan brought into this.

“What’s this about omens?” Talltail of WindClan joined Hollyflower.

Fallowtail narrowed her eyes. “Crookedjaw’s so young, everyone’s gossiping about StarClan and how they chose him.” She glanced at Crookedjaw, clearly picking up his hint. “I don’t see what the fuss is about. He’s our strongest warrior.”

Adderfang slid from the crowd. “Really?” He sniffed. “I thought he’d never fought a battle.”

Hollyflower flicked her tail. “You’re still smarting after being beaten by a medicine cat.”

Adderfang scowled. “He wasn’t a medicine cat then.” He shot a furious glance at Mudfur.

Brambleberry was introducing her new apprentice to the other medicine cats. He’d been working hard in the half-moon since starting his training, padding around camp muttering herb names under his breath as he tried to memorize them all.

The ShadowClan warriors Crowtail and Archeye stopped beside Crookedjaw. “Congratulations.” Archeye dipped his head.

“It’s good to see such a young cat getting on so well,” Crowtail added.

“Thanks.” Crookedjaw looked past them, searching the crowd for Oakheart. “I really need to find someone.” He excused himself and shouldered his way into the crowd.

Oakheart was pacing the edge of the clearing.

“There you are!” Crookedjaw hailed him with a flick of his tail.

Oakheart blinked at him. “Where else would I be?”

“I couldn’t see you in the crowd.” Crookedjaw noticed his brother’s ruffled fur. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be?”

Is he jealous that I’m deputy? Crookedjaw had been keeping that thought at bay since the ceremony in the camp. Oakheart had seemed happy for him, but tonight he was definitely avoiding Crookedjaw’s gaze. “Did you see Hailstar announce me as RiverClan’s new deputy?” He watched Oakheart closely.

Oakheart glanced back at the bushes that lined the hollow. “Yeah! It was great.”

Crookedjaw wasn’t convinced. “Are you jealous of me?” he blurted.

Oakheart twitched his tail. “Jealous? No!” He straightened up. “I’m proud of you, Crookedjaw. You wanted this so much. You deserve it. You’re going to be a great deputy and a great leader.”

“Really?”

“Really,” Oakheart purred. “I never wanted to be deputy.”

“But you said you wanted to be leader one day!”

“All apprentices say they want to be leader one day.”

Relief flooded Crookedjaw.

“The others are leaving,” Oakheart commented. The RiverClan patrol was heading for the slope. “I’ll catch up,” he promised. “There’s something I have to do first.”

Crookedjaw hurried to join his Clanmates, falling in beside Brambleberry and Mudfur as they reached the top of the hollow.

“That was an interesting night,” Mudfur meowed. “RiverClan now has the youngest deputy and the oldest medicine cat apprentice.”

Crookedjaw purred. “What did you think of the other medicine cats?”

“I like Featherwhisker,” Mudfur replied.

“Did you ever meet Goosefeather, the previous ThunderClan medicine cat?” Brambleberry asked. “He’s moved to the elders’ den now.”

“Oh yes. I always thought he looked like he’d just been pulled through a bramble.”

“Mudfur!” Fallowtail was calling him from the head of the patrol. “Come and test out your new skills on Beetlenose. He’s got hiccups.”

Mudfur hurried away, leaving Brambleberry and Crookedjaw alone. Silence walked between them like a third warrior. He could see her pelt bristling as they headed into the shadow of ThunderClan’s forest. He wanted to clear the air, but now that he knew where Mapleshade came from, he was terrified of asking Brambleberry about the omens. What if she knew he’d been meeting a warrior from the Dark Forest?

But I’m loyal to my Clan! I’ve got nothing to hide! Then why did his pelt prick with shame at the thought? Crookedjaw broke the silence, unable to bear it. “Are there any other herbs that might help Shellheart?” It was a dumb question. He knew she’d tried everything already.

“I’m going to start giving him more poppy seeds,” Brambleberry meowed. “He’s in more pain than he’ll admit to.”

“How long before he gets better?”

She didn’t answer.

Crookedjaw felt a small hard lump gather in his belly, as if he’d swallowed a stone. “He’s not going to get better, is he?”

“No.” Brambleberry’s mew was as soft as the breeze. “I’ve seen lumps like this before. The cat never survives. A lump like this brings pain and sickness and withers a warrior like frost withers a flower.”

Where’s Oakheart? Part of Crookedjaw wanted to share his grief, part wanted to protect his brother from knowing for as long as he could. First Rainflower and now Shellheart.

He felt Brambleberry’s pelt brush his. “I’m sorry you have to go through this,” she murmured.

For a moment it felt as if there had never been distance between them. Then Crookedjaw pictured the squirrel with the broken mouth, an omen sent not by StarClan but by a cat from the Dark Forest. If there was any way he could stop Brambleberry from learning the truth—if she didn’t already know—he had to find it. He stepped away from her, suddenly worried she might pick up signals through his fur, and walked on alone.

Crookedjaw squeezed through the camp entrance, weary from the Gathering. Sedgepaw and Sunpaw were waiting in the shadows.

“What happened?” Sedgepaw squeaked.

“Can we come next time?” Sunpaw begged.

Crookedjaw brushed past them. “Ask Hailstar.”

Willowbreeze padded from their den. “Did it go okay?” She yawned.

“Go back to sleep,” he called. “I’ll tell you in the morning.” He hurried across the clearing and climbed the slope. Ducking his head into the elders’ den, he peered through the shafts of moonlight streaming through the woven roof. “Shellheart?” he whispered.

“Crookedjaw.” Birdsong heaved herself to her paws. “He’ll be so glad you came. He’s been wondering how you got on at the Gathering.” Brushing against him, she guided him past Troutclaw’s nest.

“Perhaps he’ll stop talking and go to sleep now he’s seen you,” the old tom muttered.

“Take no notice of him,” Birdsong whispered. “He loves listening to Shellheart’s stories.”

Shellheart lifted his head. “Crookedjaw?”

“He’s come to tell you about the Gathering.” Birdsong nuzzled Crookedjaw’s cheek before padding back to her nest.

Shellheart looked small in his moonlit nest, his fur flat, his ribs showing though his pelt. “Come lie next to me,” he croaked. “It’s cold.”

Can’t he feel the warm greenleaf breeze? Crookedjaw climbed into his father’s nest and curled beside him. “Hailstar told them I was deputy,” he reported.

Shellheart broke into a rattling purr. “I’m so proud of you. Rainflower would have been proud, too.”

No, she wouldn’t. She’d have found some reason he’d failed her.

He felt his father’s breath on his cheek. “I’m sorry she judged you so harshly, Crookedjaw.”

I was her son, for StarClan’s sake. Bitterness rose in his throat.

“She was wrong.” Shellheart’s mew was soft. “Ever since I’ve known her, she’s always found it hard to admit when she was wrong.” He paused, as though remembering old arguments, in the days when they were both still young and headstrong. “She will come to see that. I bet she’s watching you now from StarClan, regretting how much she missed.”

A chill ran along Crookedjaw’s spine. Rainflower may be watching me from StarClan, but who is watching me from the Dark Forest?