Eclipse

Chapter 24

Lionpaw was dreaming.

Blood flooded over him, around him, washing through his fur, thick and warm, filling his nostrils, tumbling him onward until he was buffeted against rough stone walls.

Help!

He fought the crimson tide, churning his paws, his muscles screaming as he struggled against the weight of the flood.

His lungs were bursting, and the iron tang of blood filled his mouth.

The wave dragged him across jagged rocks, then swept on without him, leaving him soaked and gasping for breath. He blinked open his eyes and saw a stone roof arching high above him. Silvery light filtered through a crack, dimly lighting the stone walls of the cave. Lionpaw struggled to his paws, his sodden pelt heavy. He stared at the blood pooled in the cracks and crevices of the wide stone floor and glimpsed a shape—a body—lying awkwardly on the stone floor, paws twisted, tail limp, head thrown back, blood dripping from its whiskers.

Heatherpaw!

Lionpaw stumbled toward her, rage surging beneath his pelt. Growling, he pawed at her, but she lay heavy and motionless.

She was already dead.

He glared at her, satisfaction welling in his belly.

You deserve it!

She had caused the battle that had made the sun vanish.

And now the Clans were falling apart, turning away from StarClan as StarClan turned away from them.

His claws slid out, curling from his paws, longer and sharper than blackthorns. They scraped the cave floor, gouging furrows in the stone. Blood pounded in his ears, heat surging through him as though he were in battle. No enemy could beat him; no foe could spill his blood.

Let the battles come. Nothing can harm me. I am more powerful than StarClan!

“Get off!” Foxpaw’s indignant mew woke him. “You’re digging your claws into my back!”

Lionpaw rolled away and stumbled out of his nest. “Sorry.”

His mind was fuzzy with sleep, but the dream still haunted him. He staggered out of the den, feeling sick.

I was glad she was dead!

Horrified, he padded into the clearing.

I loved her once.

The morning sun streamed onto his pelt, but he shivered.

Fear spread like ice through his bones. He licked at his chest, relieved to find it didn’t taste of blood and his fur wasn’t stained red.

“Good morning, sleepyhead!” Hollypaw was carrying moss to the elders’ den.

Lionpaw didn’t reply. He kept washing. He felt his dream had tainted him. Did he really want to become more powerful than StarClan if it meant spilling so much blood?

Cloudtail was putting Cinderpaw through her paces below Highledge. “Jump, duck, and roll,” he ordered.

She practiced the battle move, landing perfectly on all four paws.

“How did your leg feel?” Cloudtail prompted.

Cinderpaw purred. “Like all my other legs!” She trotted around her mentor with her tail in the air. “Absolutely fine.”

Millie was coughing in the nursery, her kits mewling while Daisy tried to soothe them. “It’s all right, my sweets. Try feeding again.”

Sandstorm began rattling the branches of the apprentices’ den. “Wake up, Foxpaw, you dormouse!”

The thorn barrier shivered as Graystripe pounded into camp.

Cloudtail looked up. “Any sign of WindClan?”

“No,” Graystripe answered. “The borders are freshly marked, but no cat’s crossed them.”

Dustpelt and Whitewing followed him in and padded to the fresh-kill pile.

Whitewing picked through the prey left from last night.

“Has the hunting patrol left?”

“Not yet,” Sandstorm called. “We’re heading out shortly.”

She rattled the apprentices’ den once more. “Once I can get Foxpaw out of his nest. He thinks he’s allowed to miss all his duties while Squirrelflight’s sick.” She looked at Lionpaw. “Do you want to come hunting?”

Lionpaw paused in his washing. “Yes.” Perhaps a run in the woods would clear his mind. He could pretend he was like any other apprentice—for a short time, at least.

Leafpool slid out of her den. Jaypaw padded after her, yawning.

“We need more marigold,” she mewed. “Squirrelflight’s wound is healing nicely, but I want to be ready for any late infections. We can’t risk taking anything for granted.” She glanced nervously up at the sun, rising over the trees at the rim of the hollow.

“I’ll fetch some this morning,” Jaypaw offered. He stretched, his tail quivering with the effort. “There’s a patch beside the shore.”

“It’ll be the last of the season, I expect.” Leafpool sighed.

“Then I’ll get as much as I can.”

Grit sprinkled down from Highledge. Firestar was sitting outside his cave, washing. His orange pelt turned to fire as the morning light caught it. He gave each ear a quick rub, then gazed down at the camp. “Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather together!” he called.

Sandstorm looked up, surprised.

Lionpaw straightened. What about the hunt?

The warriors’ den shivered as Brackenfur and Birchfall padded out. Poppyfrost and Berrynose followed, their eyes bleary with sleep. Foxpaw stumbled dozily from the apprentices’ den.

“About time, too!” Sandstorm chided. “I was about to come in and drag you out by your tail.”

Icepaw trotted out after her brother. “Sorry,” she apologized. “I kept him awake last night. We were trying to stay up till you got back from the Gathering.”

Sandstorm glanced at Firestar. “You’ll hear about it soon enough.”

Lionpaw padded beneath Highledge as the Clan gathered.

Dustpelt shook sleep from his whiskers, while Thornclaw sat beside him and picked moss from his pelt. Squirrelflight had padded to the edge of the clearing. From the stern looks Leafpool was flashing at her, she was meant to be in her nest.

Hollypaw slid in beside Lionpaw. “What do you think he’s going to tell them?” she whispered.

Lionpaw guessed she was talking about the Gathering.

How would Firestar break the news of Blackstar’s revelation to his Clan?

Jaypaw weaved his way among his Clanmates and sat down beside Lionpaw. “I hope you slept better than me.”

Lionpaw stared at his paws, feeling hot, as Heatherpaw’s motionless body flashed behind his eyes.

“The Gathering was not what we expected.” Firestar’s mew jolted him out of the hateful vision. “ShadowClan didn’t come.”

Mews of shock erupted through the Clan.

Brightheart pricked her ears. “What was wrong with them?”

“Is there sickness in ShadowClan?” Cloudtail called.

Firestar ignored the questions and pressed on. “Blackstar came with the loner, Sol, and told us that ShadowClan are turning their backs on StarClan.”

Mousewhisker looked puzzled. “What do you mean?”

Firestar stared down at the young warrior. “ShadowClan no longer believe that StarClan hold all the answers. They have lost faith in their warrior ancestors and will not be attending any more Gatherings.”

He raised his voice over the murmurs of alarm speeding through the Clan. “The loner Sol appears to be encouraging this belief. But I hope StarClan will have a greater influence over ShadowClan in the end. I believe they will speak through Littlecloud and to Blackstar himself. StarClan have never let us down before. Perhaps they let Blackstar stray for a reason.

But I’m sure they will bring him back to the Clans. All will be well. Remember how the sun disappeared? But then it came back again, as warm as ever. This darkness will pass too, I’m sure.”

As the Clan stared up at their leader, Lionpaw remembered Sol’s words: The light will return, just like the sun came back, but it will be your light, and yours to control.

His blood-soaked dream lingered in his mind. Was he ready for such power? Did he even deserve it?