Darkest Night

CHAPTER 16

Twigpaw squeezed into the warriors’ den and shook the rain from her pelt. She’d lost track of how long it had been raining. Days had passed since the dark clouds had rolled over the forest, and now every den was dripping and every nest was damp. Leafpool fretted over her herb store, worried that her carefully gathered leaves might begin to rot. Hunting patrols brought back soaked prey. Twigpaw wondered how Hawkwing and Violetpaw were managing to stay dry. Surely they’d be back soon? They’d been gone nearly a half-moon.

Macgyver’s mew snatched her from her thoughts. “Have you brought a poultice for my paws?” The black-and-white tom blinked from his nest.

“Leafpool will bring some later,” Twigpaw told him. “Sandynose sent me to groom you.”

Macgyver had lost his grip on a tree trunk the day before and slithered down the wet bark, slicing his pads. He’d landed heavily and sprained his shoulder and now lay in his nest, too stiff to move.

Twigpaw’s nose wrinkled at the smell of him. The dampness had turned his pelt sour, and she didn’t relish the thought of working her tongue through his fur in search of fleas and ticks. He was a Clanmate in need and she didn’t begrudge him. But she felt irritated with Sandynose for giving her the task.

Was he punishing her for something? She’d been trying hard to listen to him during training and follow his instructions carefully, no matter how rabbit-brained they seemed. She hoped that if she worked hard, her SkyClan apprenticeship would end soon.

Macgyver shifted in his nest with a grunt. “I’ve managed to groom my belly and my paws, but I can’t reach my back.” He turned it toward her. “Sorry about the smell.”

Twigpaw padded to his nest. “The whole camp stinks,” she mewed sympathetically. “The dens and nests are so damp, they’re half rotten. It must be terrible being stuck inside.”

“I’d rather have fresh rain in my fur,” Macgyver agreed. “At least I wouldn’t smell like a badger.”

Twigpaw purred as she buried her muzzle in his thick fur and began to root for fleas. She found one and cracked it between her teeth before lapping the area clean.

Macgyver relaxed beneath her tongue. “Feels good,” he meowed gratefully. “That flea has been nibbling me all night.”

Twigpaw worked her way down his spine, nipping out fleas and washing his pelt thoroughly. At the base of his tail, she found a tick. It was fat with blood. She washed around it and leaned back on her haunches. “That tick will need mouse bile,” she told him. “If I pull it, I can’t promise to get it out cleanly. And you don’t want an infection.”

Macgyver lifted an injured paw. “I’d go to Leafpool’s den if it didn’t hurt so much to walk.”

“I’ll fetch some.” Twigpaw got to her paws. She wondered if Finpaw was back from training. Bellaleaf, who had taken over as his mentor in Blossomheart’s absence, had taken him out early. She was glad he was training again, but she missed seeing him around camp so much. She poked her head out of the den. Sandynose, Dewpaw, and Sagenose had returned from hunting. Reedpaw was helping Leafpool pile mud and moss against the walls of the medicine den to keep the rain out. While Sandynose crossed the swollen stream to talk with Leafstar, Dewpaw helped Sagenose push the prey they’d caught closer to the fern wall of the camp. Twigpaw guessed they were hoping to shelter it from the rain. But the ferns were shriveling now, and the rain was still falling. She doubted there was anywhere in camp where fresh-kill could stay dry.

“Twigpaw!”

As she headed toward Leafpool’s den, Sandynose called her.

She turned, pricking her ears. The tabby tom was heading toward her, his gaze serious. Twigpaw swallowed back a sigh. What was he going to find fault with now?

She stopped and waited. “Was prey running well?” she asked as he reached her.

“As well as can be expected in this weather.” Rain streamed from his whiskers but he didn’t seem to notice. He blinked at her sternly. “I want to speak with you about Finpaw while he’s out of camp.”

Twigpaw frowned. What did he want to say to her that he couldn’t say in front of Finpaw?

“I don’t think you should be around him so much.”

She stared. “We share a den!” How was she supposed to avoid her denmates?

“I know,” Sandynose went on. “But that doesn’t mean you have to go exploring with him or hunting with him every chance you get.”

“You make it sound like I’m stalking him.” Twigpaw’s pelt bristled. “He wants to hunt with me.”

Sandynose grunted. “Try to discourage him.”

“Why?” Twigpaw could hardly believe her ears. Finpaw was a Clanmate. What was wrong with being with him?

Sandynose looked at her steadily. “He’s trying to recover his confidence after his accident. Training is harder for him with half a tail. And he’s got a lot of catching up to do. Seeing you doing everything so easily must be hard for him.”

Twigpaw felt hot. Was that true? “But I’ve been helping him.” Together, they had found new ways for him to stalk and pounce that took advantage of his short tail. “Yesterday we worked out a new hunting crouch.”

“He’s young and he’s clearly fond of you.” Sandynose didn’t seem to be listening. “I don’t want him taking risks to impress you.”

“I’d never let him take a risk!” Twigpaw was angry. Why was Sandynose being so unfair?

“You’re distracting him from his training.” Sandynose’s tail twitched impatiently. “Just stay away from him. It’s for the good of SkyClan.”

He walked away before Twigpaw could reply.

She stared after her mentor, her heart pounding with rage. How dare he tell her to stay away from her Clanmate? For the good of SkyClan? What did that mean? I’m SkyClan too! He talked as though she wasn’t one of them.

Paw steps sounded at the entrance tunnel. Twigpaw glanced toward it. Hope flashed in her belly. Was it Hawkwing’s patrol?

Her ears twitched with surprise as she saw Ivypool lead Lionblaze, Fernsong, and Thornclaw into the clearing.

The ThunderClan warriors stopped beside the stream as Leafstar padded toward them. Sandynose came closer and stared as Dewpaw and Sagenose watched uneasily from beside the fresh-kill pile.

Ivypool dipped her head low. “We waited at the border for a patrol,” she meowed apologetically. “But no cat came.”

Leafstar glanced at the falling rain. “No cat wants to be out on a day like this. And, until Hawkwing returns with our Clanmates, our patrols are a little thin.”

As she spoke, Quailkit and Pigeonkit tumbled out of the nursery.

“Invaders!” Quailkit squeaked in alarm.

Sunnykit scrambled out, puffing her ginger kit-fluff against the weather.

Quailkit shook rain from his crow-black ears. “Are they rogues?”

“No, dear.” Tinycloud followed her kits out. “They’re ThunderClan warriors.”

“I thought ThunderClan warriors were like foxes,” Sunnykit mewed.

“That’s ShadowClan,” Pigeonkit announced knowledgeably.

Tinycloud swept her tail around them and scooped them close, shielding them from the rain. “Be quiet, my dears, and listen.”

Beside the medicine den, Reedpaw sat back on her haunches and poked Leafpool. “Your Clanmates are here.”

Leafpool, absorbed in her work, looked up. “Thornclaw!” Her gaze warmed when she saw the golden-brown tom. She shook mud and moss from her paws and crossed the camp to greet him. “How’s Blossomfall?”

“She’s well.” Thornclaw nodded graciously.

“And the kits?” Leafpool’s eyes sparkled.

“Eaglekit and Shellkit are determined to climb the rock tumble and explore Bramblestar’s cave,” Thornclaw told her. “Stemkit and Plumkit prefer to hang around the medicine den.”

Leafpool purred. “I expect Jayfeather isn’t too pleased.”

“No.” Thornclaw’s whiskers twitched. “But Alderheart says he enjoys having something to complain about.”

A twinge of homesickness jabbed Twigpaw’s heart. Jayfeather used to complain about her.

Ivypool looked at Thornclaw, her eyes dark. “We came to discuss a serious matter.”

Thornclaw lowered his head as she went on.

“We’re searching for Dovewing.” Ivypool’s mew was taut with worry.

Leafstar tipped her head to one side. “Is she missing?”

“She left camp two days ago and hasn’t been seen since.”

Twigpaw stiffened. She’s gone?

“Did she say where she was going?” Leafstar asked.

Lionblaze’s pelt rippled along his spine. “She left without a word to anyone.”

Leafpool leaned closer. “Have you searched the forest?”

“We’ve searched ThunderClan’s part of the forest,” Ivypool told her. “We’ve also traveled to ShadowClan’s camp to ask if they’ve seen her.”

“Have they?” Leafstar asked.

“Rowanstar says they haven’t.” Ivypool’s ears twitched uneasily.

Leafstar turned to Sandynose. “Has there been any sign of her on SkyClan territory?”

“No cat’s reported any strange scents to me,” he reported.

“No cat?” Ivypool looked at Twigpaw.

Twigpaw shifted her paws guiltily. Should she have reported seeing Tigerheart and Dovewing? Ivypool stared at her wordlessly until Leafstar followed her gaze. Sandynose narrowed his eyes.

“Twigpaw? Do you know something?” Leafstar asked.

Twigpaw’s pelt prickled uncomfortably. “I saw Dovewing talking to Tigerheart near the ThunderClan border a quarter moon ago.” She glanced at Ivypool quizzically. Why had her former mentor put her in this position? “But it didn’t seem to be anything to do with SkyClan.”

“Were they on our territory?” Leafstar asked.

“Yes, but they were talking about ShadowClan,” Twigpaw mewed quickly.

Leafstar’s ears pricked. “What were they saying?”

Twigpaw’s thoughts seemed to tangle into knots. What should she say? Should she betray Tigerheart’s fears for ShadowClan? Or his love for Dovewing? Words shriveled on her tongue. She felt she was being disloyal to everyone. “Tigerheart was worried about his Clan, that’s all,” she mewed at last.

Leafstar narrowed her eyes.

Sandynose padded toward Twigpaw. “Why didn’t you report this at the time?”

“It didn’t seem important.”

“They were on our territory,” Sandynose growled.

“But it was ShadowClan’s land half a moon ago. I just figured borders weren’t as fixed as they used to be.”

Sandynose’s gaze glittered with anger. “Since when were a Clan’s borders not fixed?”

Twigpaw looked at the ground. “There have just been so many changes lately,” she mumbled.

“Yes,” Sandynose meowed icily. “Perhaps, for some cats, change isn’t always good.”

What did he mean by that? She looked at him, alarmed. His unwavering gaze pierced hers. Did he think she should have stayed with ThunderClan?

Leafstar whisked her tail. “Did you ask Tigerheart about Dovewing?” she asked Ivypool.

“I questioned him.” Ivypool lifted her chin. “But he said he hasn’t seen her.”

“And you believe him?” Leafstar asked.

“Would you?” Ivypool retorted.

Leafstar shrugged. “All I know about Tigerheart is that it was his idea to give us this territory. Feel free to search our land.” She dipped her head to Ivypool. “But you must be back across your border by sunset.”

“Thank you.” Ivypool stared for a moment at the SkyClan leader, then turned away. Lionblaze, Thornclaw, and Fernsong followed her to the camp entrance.

Twigpaw watched them leave, her belly tight. She wanted to run after Ivypool and ask her why she’d forced her to confess to seeing Dovewing. Did she want to make her life difficult in SkyClan? Was she still angry at her for leaving ThunderClan? Was I disloyal?

Sandynose growled beside her. “I see I was right to tell you to stay away from Finpaw.”

Twigpaw flinched as he stalked away. Now he had reason to distrust her. She wished that Hawkwing and Violetpaw were with her. At least she’d have the support of kin. She knew that Tinycloud was Pebbleshine’s mother, but she was busy with her new kits now. Her pelt tingled uneasily. Hawkwing and Violetpaw had been spending so much time together on their journey—now they would share all kinds of private jokes and stories that Twigpaw wouldn’t understand. What if she felt even more isolated with them here?

Stop feeling sorry for yourself. She shook out her pelt. She was behaving like a kit. You made a decision. Now live with it. You were born a SkyClan cat. This is the Clan you’re supposed to be with.

And yet a small voice sounded at the back of her mind. She’d been happy in ThunderClan. She knew their stories. She’d hunted at their side. It had felt easy to be around them. Here she had to work to feel like she belonged.

Twigpaw watched as Sandynose talked in hushed mews with Leafstar. Tinycloud shooed her kits back into the nursery. Dewpaw and Sagenose busily laid bracken fronds over the fresh-kill pile.

Macgyver would be waiting for his mouse bile. She headed for Leafpool’s den. How strange that Dovewing had gone missing. Something told her that the ThunderClan warrior had been planning to leave. Twigpaw had heard it in the way she’d talked with Tigerheart. Dovewing had seemed at ease with the ShadowClan warrior. As though she were at home just being with him. And, for a moment, Twigpaw envied her.