Night Whispers

Chapter 20

Dovepaw crouched behind a tangle of ivy. She flattened her belly against the snow, keeping low in the gully so that no moon shadow spread out behind her.

Paw steps had nearly reached the top of the gully. Opening her mouth, she tasted the familiar scent. Her belly fluttered. Another tail-length. She held her breath. Almost there.

“Got you!” She shot up the short, steep slope and sent Tigerheart rolling across the forest floor.

“I give up!”

She scrambled off him. “One night you’ll get here first.”

“I thought I was early tonight.” He smoothed his ruffled pelt. “It’s as if you know exactly when I leave camp!”

Dovepaw dropped her gaze. “Yeah, right,” she mumbled. “Like I can hear you creeping out of your nest.” She changed the subject. “I wonder how much longer this snow’s going to last.”

Tigerheart shrugged. “It’s better than rain.”

“But it’s impossible to go anywhere without leaving a trail.”

“A good warrior can follow a trail without snow.”

Dovepaw leaned forward and rubbed her nose against his cheek. “I could find your trail on water,” she murmured.

A purr rumbled in his throat. “I’ve missed you.”

Border scents filled the air around them, ThunderClan mingling with ShadowClan. “Should we go to the abandoned Twoleg nest?” Dovepaw suggested.

“There’s no time tonight.” Tigerheart sighed. “Blackstar’s sending out extra patrols at moonhigh and dawn.”

Dovepaw tipped her head. “Why?”

“We’re hunting for herbs as well as prey.”

“Is Littlecloud worse?”

“Yes.” His belly growled. “And the Clan’s getting hungry.”

Dovepaw pressed her cheek against Tigerheart’s. ThunderClan was lucky that whitecough hadn’t turned to greencough. “I wish I could help.” She pictured Jayfeather’s fat clumps of juicy herbs growing by the Twoleg nest, protected from the ice by heaps of bracken. “But Jayfeather’s made sure no one can take leaves from his herb patch.”

Tigerheart pricked his ears. “Herb patch?”

“The plants he’s been nursing since greenleaf.”

“He’s been growing herbs?”

Dovepaw drew away, surprised. “I thought you knew.” She frowned. “Isn’t that why ShadowClan wanted our territory?”

Tigerheart stared at her. “We never wanted ThunderClan territory.”

“But Ivy—” Dovepaw stopped herself. There was no need for Tigerheart to hear about Ivypaw’s dream. “I thought that’s why we had the battle.”

“It was Firestar who wanted territory,” Tigerheart meowed. “He asked for the clearing back.”

Dovepaw shifted her paws. Only because Ivypaw persuaded him to. She shook out her pelt. She didn’t want to argue with Tigerheart. The battle was over. “Never mind.”

“But Jayfeather has herbs.” Tigerheart leaned closer. “Which herbs?”

“Just some tansy.” The words felt sticky on her tongue. She couldn’t lie to Tigerheart, but it felt disloyal to tell him about Jayfeather’s precious supply. “A bit of catmint.”

“Catmint?” Tigerheart’s eyes shone. “Would he let us have some?”

Dovepaw felt hot. “Leafpool’s asked him to give you some already.”

“And?”

“He said no.”

“But Littlecloud might die!”

“He said we have to look after our own Clan.” Dovepaw wove around Tigerheart, brushing against him. Come on, Tigerheart, let’s have fun! She flicked his nose with her tail. “Let’s see who can climb highest.” She glanced up at the pine beside them, wondering if her claws were strong enough yet to make it up the trunk to the lowest branch. It stuck out high above her head.

“Did you hear me?” Tigerheart snapped. “Littlecloud might die.”

Dovepaw dropped her gaze, her heart sinking. “I could steal some,” she offered. Her belly twisted.

“No.” Tigerheart was firm. “You can’t steal from your own Clan for me.”

Relief swamped her. “I can try and persuade Jayfeather to give you some.”

Tigerheart touched his nose to hers. “Thank you,” he murmured. Dovepaw felt a rush of affection for him. “I just hope we get some herbs soon,” Tigerheart went on. “Otherwise the Clan is going to starve to death while we’re scraping the forest floor for leaves.”

“Watch this.” Dovepaw scuttled backward to the top of the slope. She was going to distract Tigerheart even if it meant falling on her nose. She crouched, pushed up hard with her hind legs, and stretched her forepaws back over her head, trying to reach her tail. Arcing her belly toward the sky, she reached for the ground, praying that she’d manage to complete the backflip.

She landed on her chin with a thump that knocked the wind from her. Thrusting her claws through the snow into the frozen forest floor, she managed to stop herself from rolling down the slope.

Tigerheart was purring with amusement. “Smooth landing.”

“Keep watching.” She scrabbled to her paws and crouched down, ready to try again, but Tigerheart laid his tail over her shoulders.

“Wait a moment.”

“What?” She looked at him.

His front paw flicked up and a clump of snow hit her on the nose.

“Hey!” Dovepaw leaped to her feet, scooped up a pawful, and flung it at him. Tigerheart ducked as the snow sailed past his ear. Dovepaw lunged at him playfully and tumbled him into the snow.

“Whoa!” Tigerheart pretended to lose his balance and rolled over and over down the short, steep slope, holding Dovepaw in his strong grip. She squeaked as they rolled to a halt. Out of breath, they lay entangled in each other’s paws. Dovepaw felt a surge of happiness so strong that she broke into a purr.

Then she stiffened.

“What?” Tigerheart tensed beside her.

“Paw steps.” She had forgotten to listen out for danger. Now she could hear fur brushing bracken and pads scraping over the frost-crusted snow. “Someone’s coming.”

“Who?”

Dovepaw tasted the air. Her tail bushed out. “Ivypaw!”

Too late!

Her sister’s white face appeared at the top of the slope. “I knew it!” she hissed.

Dovepaw lifted her chin. “You knew ages ago!”

“But now I’ve seen it for myself.” Ivypaw’s eyes glittered.

Tigerheart straightened up beside Dovepaw. “You’re on ShadowClan territory,” he challenged.

“So’s she!” Ivypaw snorted. “At least I’m not betraying my Clan.”

Dovepaw flashed with rage. “You betray us every night in the Dark Forest!”

Did Tigerheart flinch? Dovepaw glanced at him. His gaze was fixed on Ivypaw.

Ivypaw lifted her tail. “Are you going to tell her, Tigerheart, or should I?”

Dovepaw leaned forward, her ears flat. “Don’t start that again!” There’s no way Tigerheart would train in the Dark Forest!

Ivypaw’s gaze was still locked with Tigerheart’s. Dovepaw felt a chill along her spine.

“You see?” Ivypaw snarled at Tigerheart. “My sister doesn’t believe me.” The tip of her tail began to twitch. “Perhaps she’ll believe you.”

No! Dovepaw began to back away. Please don’t let Tigerheart be part of the Dark Forest too.

Bracken rustled behind Ivypaw. Dovepaw gasped as Tigerheart shoved her underneath a pile of dead brambles. “Stay still,” he hissed.

Dovepaw flattened herself against the ground and held her breath. The air was thick with ShadowClan scents.

“What’s happening here?” She recognized Smokefoot’s deep growl.

Tigerheart’s paws scrabbled on the snow. “I found her near the border.”

Trembling, Dovepaw peered through the tendrils. She could just make out Smokefoot and Applefur at the top of the slope. The ShadowClan warriors were glowering at Ivypaw.

Tigerheart puffed his chest out beside the ThunderClan apprentice. “I was about to bring her back to camp so Blackstar could question her.”

“Really?” Applefur narrowed his eyes. “Why were you wandering about in the middle of the night?”

Smokefoot leaned closer. “You weren’t assigned to a moonhigh patrol.”

Tigerheart met Smokefoot’s gaze. “I couldn’t sleep.”

The ShadowClan warrior turned to Ivypaw. “What are you doing on ShadowClan land?”

Dovepaw’s heart quickened.

“I was looking for prey.”

Please believe her!

“It’s a strange time to be hunting,” Applefur challenged.

“Food is scarce,” Ivypaw answered. “I thought there might be some night prey.”

“On ShadowClan land?” Smokefoot challenged.

“I didn’t realize I’d crossed the border.”

“Can’t ThunderClan apprentices smell? Come on,” Smokefoot hissed. “Let’s take her back to the camp.”

Dovepaw fought panic as she listened to the ShadowClan cats lead her sister away. Tigerheart, protect her! she pleaded silently.

As soon as they were out of hearing distance, she crawled out from the brambles and dashed for the border. Ivypaw had been captured by ShadowClan! But I can’t tell anyone!

Dovepaw’s heart seemed to stop. How could she explain why Ivypaw had been taken? She might give away her meetings with Tigerheart. How could Lionblaze or Jayfeather trust her again? Would her Clanmates ever forgive her? She pricked her ears, searching for Ivypaw, until she heard voices from the ShadowClan camp.

A kit was squeaking excitedly. “Who’s that?”

“Just a ThunderClan ’paw, dear,” a queen soothed. “Go back to your nest. It’s late.”

Dovepaw listened harder.

“Blackstar will see you in the morning.” That was Smokefoot! He must be talking to Ivypaw. “Stay here until you are fetched.”

“There’s some moss in the corner.” She heard Tigerheart’s whisper. “You can make a nest out of it. You won’t be disturbed. Just keep quiet and don’t try to escape.”

The tightness in Dovepaw’s chest eased. They were treating Ivypaw well. There would be no need for a rescue party, surely? Dovepaw padded home and crept through the dirtplace tunnel. Treading lightly, she slipped past the ferns into her den. As she curled into soft moss, she was painfully aware of Ivypaw’s cold, empty nest. Thoughts spinning, heart pounding, she closed her eyes.

The sounds of the camp woke her. Brambleclaw was organizing the hunting patrols below Highledge. Sandstorm was coughing. Poppyfrost was in the medicine den begging Jayfeather for a little tansy for Cherrykit. Ruffled and anxious, Dovepaw climbed out of her nest. She listened hard to locate the ShadowClan camp and finally heard a gruff ShadowClan warrior. “Blackstar will see you later.” A small thud made Dovepaw jump. “Eat this.” He must have thrown her some prey.

“Thank you.” Ivypaw didn’t sound frightened.

Dovepaw lifted her chin. She knew what she had to do now. “Ivypaw?” she called. She waited a few moments, then hopped out of the den.

“Ivypaw?”

Graystripe, Berrynose, Millie, and Whitewing were sitting with Icecloud and Foxleap beneath Highledge. Brambleclaw paced in front of them.

Dovepaw took a deep breath and called to them. “Has Ivypaw already left on patrol?”

Graystripe turned and glanced, puzzled, at Dovepaw. “Do you need her for something?”

Dovepaw shrugged as casually as she could. “She wasn’t in her nest when I woke up.”

Whitewing got to her paws. “I haven’t seen her.” Concern edged her mew. “Birchfall?” She called to her mate.

Birchfall paused from digging in the snow. He was unearthing a prey store. “What’s up?”

“Have you seen Ivypaw?” Whitewing asked.

Birchfall looked at Dovepaw. “Isn’t she in her nest?”

Dovepaw shook her head. “She was gone when I woke up.”

Whitewing pushed her way into the apprentices’ den, popping out a moment later. “Her nest is cold. She hasn’t been in it all night.”

Birchfall’s fur spiked. “Brambleclaw?”

The Clan deputy looked up. “Is everything okay?”

“Ivypaw hasn’t slept in her nest,” Birchfall told him.

Brambleclaw glanced around the gathered warriors. “Has anyone seen her?”

“Not since last night,” Berrynose answered.

“I shared a mouse with her at sundown,” Sorreltail told him.

Cinderheart came hurrying from the dirtplace tunnel. “Did someone say Ivypaw’s missing?”

Whitewing paced at the edge of the clearing. “Her nest hasn’t been slept in.”

“It’s too cold to be out of camp for long.,” Brambleclaw meowed.

“What if she’s hurt?” Whitewing gasped.

Birchfall brushed his tail along her ruffled spine. “We don’t know that.”

“We’ll have to start searching for her,” Brambleclaw decided. He nodded to Berrynose and Graystripe. “Take a patrol each and search the forest.”

Dovepaw’s heart began to race. They mustn’t waste hunting patrols! Her thoughts whirled. She couldn’t blurt out that Ivypaw was in ShadowClan’s camp. They’d wonder how she knew.

Jayfeather! He’d understand.

Glancing furtively at her Clanmates, Dovepaw headed for the medicine den. “Jayfeather!”

“Shhh!” The medicine cat was soaking leaves in the pool. “Sandstorm’s sleeping!”

Briarlight propped herself up on the edge of her nest. “What’s wrong?”

“Ivypaw’s missing,” Dovepaw mewed. She stared at Jayfeather, willing him to hear the urgency in her mew. She had to speak to him in private.

Carefully he rolled the soaked leaf into a dripping bundle and laid it beside the pool. “Come with me,” he told Dovepaw, and padded past her. Briarlight’s eyes were sharp with curiosity as Dovepaw followed Jayfeather out of the den.

Toadstep and Icecloud were clambering over the beech. Toadstep peered down the gap between the branches and the cliff wall. “Ivypaw?”

Rosepetal was checking behind the nursery. “No sign of her here.”

“I’m guessing she’s not in camp,” Jayfeather muttered.

“I know where she is!” Dovepaw could hardly keep the words in. “I can hear her. She’s in ShadowClan’s camp!”

“What’s she doing there?” Jayfeather demanded.

“I… I don’t know. I can just hear her. I think they’re holding her captive. They told her to stay where she was and gave her some food and said that Blackstar would see her later.”

“How in the name of StarClan did she end up there?” Jayfeather sounded more annoyed than worried. He headed toward the rock tumble. “Let’s tell Firestar before the whole Clan starts to panic.”

Dovepaw followed him up the stones. Say as little as you can, she reminded herself. You mustn’t give anything away.

“In the ShadowClan camp?” Firestar blinked with surprise when Jayfeather told him. He turned his sharp gaze on Dovepaw. “How long has she been there?”

Dovepaw stared at him innocently. “She was in camp last night when we went to our nests, but she was gone this morning.”

“Do you think she went there herself?”

“She may have gone to the border,” Dovepaw ventured. “Perhaps they caught her there?”

“What would she be doing on the ShadowClan border?” Firestar shook his head as though he had a tick in his ear. “I can’t think of anywhere more dangerous since the battle.”

Dovepaw dropped her gaze, her pelt burning. “I—I don’t know.”

Jayfeather leaned closer to the ThunderClan leader. “Perhaps you should call off the search.”

Firestar ducked out of the den. Dovepaw trailed after him. “We believe that Ivypaw has been taken prisoner by ShadowClan,” he called down to the clearing.

Dovepaw flinched as her Clanmates stared in shock at the ThunderClan leader.

“How do you know?” Mousefur growled, padding to the center of the clearing.

Firestar shifted his paws. “She was last seen on the ShadowClan border.” He couldn’t reveal any more without giving away Dovepaw’s powers.

Thornclaw padded past Mousefur. “We should send a patrol to rescue her!”

“I want to go!” Whitewing insisted.

Thornclaw flexed his claws. “I’ll lead it.”

“We should leave now!” Birchfall yowled.

Firestar flicked his tail. “We must stay calm.”

“We can’t just leave her there!” Whitewing hissed.

“A small patrol should go and see if it’s true,” Firestar reasoned. “If it is, they can ask for her return.”

Birchfall bristled. “Ask?”

Firestar nodded. “We can’t fight them in their own camp,” he pointed out. “There are elders and kits there.”

Mousefur twitched one ear. “Don’t forget, they have Ivypaw. They might harm her if we attack.”

Firestar sat down and wrapped his tail over his paws. “Brambleclaw!” he called. “Take Brackenfur, Cloudtail, and Dovepaw.”

Dovepaw curled her claws into her pads. She wanted to stay out of this. She wanted to pretend it wasn’t happening.

Whitewing darted forward. “I want to go with them!”

Firestar shook his head. “Brambleclaw can handle it,” he meowed. “He’ll bring Ivypaw back safely.” Whitewing turned away, growling. Firestar glanced at Dovepaw. “Off you go.”

She scrambled down the rock tumble and joined Brambleclaw, Cloudtail, and Brackenfur as they headed out of camp. “What was she doing on the border at night?” Cloudtail wondered as they headed through the trees toward ShadowClan territory.

“Surely she’s not a traitor?” Brackenfur murmured.

Never! Guilt shot through Dovepaw. It was her fault that Brackenfur doubted Ivypaw’s loyalty.

“It wouldn’t be the first time a cat has met secretly with a warrior from another Clan.” Brambleclaw’s eyes were dark, fixed on the trail.

It’s all because of me! Don’t blame her!

At the border, Brambleclaw sat down. Cloudtail stared at him. “Aren’t we going to the camp?”

“We’ll wait for a patrol,” Brambleclaw answered.

Cloudtail snorted.

“We don’t know for sure they have her,” Brackenfur pointed out.

Cloudtail began to pace the scent line. “It’s just the sort of trick ShadowClan would pull.”

Dovepaw pricked her ears. Paw steps were crunching through the snow. ShadowClan was awake and patrolling. She waited, listening over the pounding of her heart, until the paw steps came near enough for her to announce without suspicion, “I can hear something!”

Brambleclaw stood up and faced the border, fur smooth, gaze steady. Rowanclaw, Shrewfoot, and Crowfrost wove through the bushes toward them. Dovepaw forced herself to stop trembling. It’s going to be okay. She spotted Tigerheart as he slid out from behind his Clanmates. She looked down at her paws, frightened to catch his eye in case she gave her feelings away.

“Come to fetch something you’ve lost?” Crowfrost snarled across the scent line.

Cloudtail bristled. “Then you admit you’ve taken her!”

Shrewfoot glared at the white warrior. “Tigerheart found her wandering on our territory.”

Brambleclaw blinked. “Is she safe?”

Crowfrost hesitated. Dovepaw groped desperately for some sound from her sister in the ShadowClan camp.

“We haven’t hurt her,” Crowfrost murmured.

Rowanclaw and Shrewfoot exchanged glances.

“May we escort her home?” Brambleclaw addressed the ShadowClan deputy.

“Why’s he being so polite?” Cloudtail breathed into Brackenfur’s ear.

Brambleclaw flicked his tail. “You don’t want an extra mouth to feed,” he meowed to Rowanclaw.

Rowanclaw nodded. “True, but we don’t want ThunderClan apprentices wandering across our borders either.”

Rowanclaw stepped closer to the border. “You can have her back,” he growled, “in exchange for catmint.”

Dovepaw looked sharply at Tigerheart. His face betrayed nothing. Only yesterday he was worried sick about Littlecloud, and now Ivypaw was being offered in exchange for exactly the herb needed to save the ShadowClan medicine cat? He must have told his Clanmates about the herb patches. How could he?

Pain seared Dovepaw’s heart. He doesn’t really love me! He was just using me, and now he’s using Ivypaw! Dovepaw froze. Wouldn’t she do the same for her Clan? Would her loyalty lie with Tigerheart or ThunderClan?

“Catmint?” Brambleclaw echoed.

“Littlecloud’s sick with greencough,” Rowanclaw told him. “He needs catmint to survive.”

Brambleclaw looked puzzled. “Why ask like this?”

“We don’t want to harm Ivypaw,” Rowanclaw meowed. The meaning in his words was clear. “We just need catmint.”

Brambleclaw tensed, and Dovepaw guessed he was forcing himself not to react to the implied threat. Instead he nodded. “I’ll tell Firestar.” He signaled to his Clanmates with his tail and headed back toward camp.

“Why didn’t Flametail just ask Jayfeather?” Firestar stared in bewilderment at his deputy as Brambleclaw reported Rowanclaw’s demand. “We’ve always helped other Clans in the past.”

Beside him, in the clearing, Graystripe curled his lip. “And we’ve been criticized for helping,” he growled.

Jayfeather stood at the entrance to the medicine den. Dovepaw could see his claws digging into the snow.

Leafpool, watching with Squirrelflight from the halfrock, looked grief-stricken. “How sick is Littlecloud?”

Brambleclaw narrowed his eyes. “Sick enough to hold an apprentice hostage.”

“I’ll go and pick the herbs,” Jayfeather muttered.

“Thank you.” Firestar nodded. “I know herbs are scarce, but Littlecloud needs them.”

Squirrelflight stepped forward. “What about Sandstorm?”

“And Cherrykit!” Daisy trotted across the clearing with her fluffy cream-colored tail held high. “She’s no better today.”

Firestar dipped his head. “We will try to see to the needs of everyone,” he meowed. “But Littlecloud and Ivypaw are in the gravest danger. We must help them first.”

Poppyfrost’s face appeared in the nursery entrance. Her eyes were round with worry. Firestar’s gaze rested on her for a moment before he turned back to Brambleclaw. “Perhaps the cat who found the yarrow can find more herbs,” he murmured.

Dovepaw wanted to creep into her nest and hide. What if Sandstorm or Cherrykit got worse? What if they died? This is all my fault!