Shattered Sky

Chapter 16

The sun was setting as Violetpaw led her hunting patrol back into the rogue camp. The rest of the patrol—Loki, Nettle, and Scorchfur—dropped their prey on the fresh-kill pile, grabbed some for themselves, and padded off to eat.

Left to herself, Violetpaw chose several of the best pieces of prey and carried them to a dip in the ground not far from Darktail’s den. The shadow of an elder bush sheltered her from the rest of the Kin.

Violetpaw had already hidden the leaf wrap of poppy seeds among the roots of the bush. Now she drew it out and carefully counted out three seeds for each piece of prey before she pushed them inside the fresh-kill.

Darktail and his friends will really enjoy this, she thought grimly. Even though her heart was pounding hard at the risk she was taking, she took a kind of joy in the thought that she was playing such an important part in defeating the invaders.

Darktail’s den was beneath a jutting rock, screened by overhanging fronds of fern. When Violetpaw was sure all the poppy seeds were well concealed, she padded up to the entrance, trying not to let her legs shake with apprehension.

“Darktail!” she called out. “The hunting patrol is back, and I’ve picked out some good prey for you.”

The fern fronds shook as the white tom brushed past them into the open. “Good,” he meowed, swiping his tongue around his jaws. “I’m starving!”

“So am I.”

The voice came from behind Violetpaw; she spun around, her belly lurching as if she had swallowed crow-food. Sleek-whisker was standing a fox-length away, her yellow pelt gleaming in the last light of the sun.

How long has she been there? Violetpaw asked herself, fighting against panic. Did she see what I did to the prey?

Then Violetpaw forced herself to be calm, telling herself that if Sleekwhisker had spotted her, she would surely have asked what she was doing.

I know she’s desperate to catch me doing something wrong, because she can’t stand it that Darktail likes me better than her. So, if she hasn’t said anything, she couldn’t have seen me… I hope.

“The prey is over here.” Violetpaw waved her tail in the direction of the elder bush. “Should I fetch it for you, Darktail?”

“No, we can eat over there,” Darktail replied. Glancing around, he beckoned with his tail to his closest followers, who were stretched out together in a patch of sunlight. “Raven! Roach! Nettle—come over here! It’s time to eat.”

As the rogues padded over to the prey pile, Violetpaw dipped her head to Darktail. “I’ll just go and get some sleep,” she mewed.

Darktail twitched his whiskers. “Don’t you want to eat with us?” he asked.

“No thanks, Darktail. I had a mouse while I was out,” Violetpaw replied, thankful for once that the rogues didn’t follow the warrior code, so no cat would be surprised that she had eaten before she brought food back for the Kin.

For a moment, Darktail looked concerned. Oh, StarClan! Violetpaw thought, her muscles tensing. Don’t let him order me to share the prey!

Then Darktail gave her a brusque nod. “Suit yourself,” he responded with a shrug, and padded off to join his Kin around the prey pile.

Trying not to let her relief show, Violetpaw slipped away to the new den she had made for herself among some reeds at the edge of the stream, so she could get some privacy from Zelda. That went well, she congratulated herself. Now, I just have to wait…

Violetpaw lay curled up in her den until night had fallen and the noises outside in the camp had faded into quiet. Expecting that every cat would be asleep, she slid out of her den, shook some scraps of moss from her pelt, and arched her back in a good long stretch. Then, her ears pricked alertly, she headed across the camp to Darktail’s den.

He should be in a really deep sleep, she told herself with satisfaction. Along with the other three mange-pelts he calls his closest Kin. Then ThunderClan and I can put our plan into action.

But as Violetpaw approached the den, Sleekwhisker rose up out of the shadow of the fern clump. Her green eyes glinted; she was fully awake.

“Oh, good, there you are,” she purred.

Disconcerted, Violetpaw took a pace back. “Oh, uh… I just went to make dirt,” she explained desperately. “I’ll get back to my den now.”

Sleekwhisker slid out her claws. “I don’t think so,” she responded, amusement in her voice.

With a hard shove, Sleekwhisker thrust Violetpaw through the screen of ferns and into Darktail’s den. It took a couple of heartbeats for Violetpaw’s vision to clear in the dim light—but when it did, she felt as if terror had turned her whole body into a block of ice. Darktail and the rest of his close Kin were all there, and every one of them was awake. Their eyes gleamed in the darkness, their baleful gazes fixed on her.

Before Violetpaw could speak, Roach and Raven grabbed her neck fur with one forepaw each. Violetpaw cringed as their claws sank deep into her pelt. The two rogues dragged her forward until she was standing in front of the leader.

“Get off me!” she yowled, trying to dig her claws into the earth floor of the den. “What’s gotten into you?”

Darktail gazed down at her, quite calm, his eyes filled with a dreadful gentleness. “Do you have anything you’d like to tell me?” he asked.

“Like what?” Violetpaw tried to sound innocent, desperately wondering if there was any plan that would save her now.

Darktail reached behind him into the shadows and drew out a leaf; on it were the poppy seeds, sticky now from prey juices. “Like what your plan was, exactly, with this little trick,” he responded as he pushed the leaf in front of Violetpaw.

Violetpaw felt her blood turn icier still. “I’m—I’m not sure what those are,” she stammered.

“Oh, very funny,” Darktail meowed. “I wasn’t sure, either, so I asked Puddleshine. He was so helpful. He explained that these are poppy seeds, and powerful enough to put a cat to sleep.” He paused, examining the claws on one forepaw. “Which makes it interesting that several of them were found in the pieces of prey you brought for me and my closest Kin.”

Violetpaw shook her head, still trying to cling to innocence. “I’m not sure… I didn’t…”

Darktail suddenly shook off his calm demeanor. “Don’t waste our time pretending you didn’t do it,” he snapped. “Sleek-whisker saw you doing something suspicious to the prey, and she was smart enough to warn us before we could eat it. You know,” he went on, a menacing rumble in his throat, “it’s almost impressive, how good you are at this: lying, pretending to be a friend when in fact you’re an enemy. I suppose it’s all the time you spent among those useless Clan cats. I thought you were like me—”

“I am—really!” Violetpaw protested, her voice squeaking as if she were a frightened kit.

Darktail ignored her. “No,” he continued. “I don’t believe that anymore. In fact, I’m beginning to wonder: Is it possible that you had something to do with those former ShadowClan elders and queens who have gone missing? Don’t think I haven’t noticed. I notice everything that happens among my Kin.”

Now Violetpaw couldn’t stop herself from shaking. She had known that she was taking a risk by agreeing to put the poppy seeds into Darktail’s food, but she had never imagined a moment like this, and what it would actually feel like to be caught.

So this is it, she thought. He’s going to kill me. She realized that if Twigpaw ever did return to her Clan, she wouldn’t be there to greet her. She would never have the chance to say that she was sorry and be reconciled with her sister. Or perhaps Twigpaw is already in StarClan, and I’ll see her there. The thought made a violent shudder pass through her from ears to tail-tip.

“Oh, I’m not going to kill you,” Darktail mewed, as if he could read her thoughts. “Killing you wouldn’t be enough punishment for the traitorous act you tried to perform tonight—the act you almost pulled off.”

Before Violetpaw could ask what he meant, Darktail stalked past her out of the den, flicking his tail at Roach and Raven, “Bring her,” he snarled.

The two rogues grabbed Violetpaw again and dragged her out after Darktail, with Sleekwhisker padding behind. To her horror, Violetpaw realized that the white tom was heading toward the prisoners’ den.

Is he going to throw me inside? she wondered, her legs almost giving way out of fear. She had seen how Needletail and the RiverClan prisoners had been starved and intimidated; she shivered at the thought of having to go through that herself.

Outside the den, Zelda and Nettle were on guard, straightening up and looking alert as Darktail approached. The white tom said nothing to them, simply growling, “Wait here,” to Roach and Raven before pushing his way through the brambles and into the den.

Violetpaw was aware of Zelda’s scared gaze fixed on her, but she dared not speak to, or even look at, her kittypet friend.

A moment later, scuffling sounds came from among the brambles, and Darktail reappeared, thrusting Needletail in front of him. From behind, yowls of dismay came from the other prisoners.

“What are you doing?”

“What’s happening?”

Violetpaw could see every one of Needletail’s ribs as her friend staggered to a halt beside her. Her pelt was matted and her eyes were dull, but she tried to hold herself erect and face Darktail.

“Yes, what is happening?” she challenged him. “What do you want?”

“Violetpaw has betrayed me,” Darktail replied, his voice a soft, menacing purr. “She tried to put me to sleep by slipping poppy seeds into my prey. Needletail, I’m afraid that you are the cat who must pay the price for her treachery, but don’t worry… You’ll be doing the other prisoners a favor. There’ll be more fresh-kill to go around now.”

His words ended with a harsh mrrow of laughter; Violetpaw thought she had never heard a more evil sound. She didn’t know what Darktail meant when he said that Needletail must pay the price, but fear swelled from deep in her belly. It won’t be anything good.

Needletail cast an alarmed glance at Violetpaw just as Darktail and Sleekwhisker seized hold of Needletail and began dragging her across the camp. At first Needletail tried to fight, writhing in their grip and striking out with all four paws. But she was too weak to win a battle against the two fit, muscular rogues, and soon Darktail and Sleekwhisker held her pinned to the ground until her struggles stopped; then they hauled her up and dragged her onward.

Roach and Raven followed with Violetpaw. As they splashed through the stream that formed the camp border, Violetpaw realized that they were heading toward the lake.

Terror welled up inside her like dark floodwater. Why would Darktail take us there? Unbidden, a memory flashed into her mind, of how Dawnpelt had argued with Darktail in the middle of the night. The rogue leader’s words echoed in her mind. If you don’t want to be with us anymore, then you are no longer our Kin.

Icy claws of horror pricked at Violetpaw’s belly. Is he taking us wherever he took Dawnpelt?

On the lakeshore, Darktail halted and turned to face his prisoners. “Why are you looking so scared?” he asked Violetpaw. “You have nothing to worry about. Your good friend Needletail will take your punishment for you.”

Without warning, he leaped forward and sank his claws into Needletail’s shoulders, dragging her backward into the lake until the water reached their belly fur. Needletail let out a screech and began striking out at Darktail in an effort to free herself, but as the water rose around them, it was all she could do to stay on her paws.

Then with a powerful spasm of his forelegs Darktail pushed Needletail’s head under the surface. Her screeches of alarm were cut off with a choking sound as water flowed into her mouth.

Violetpaw stared in utter disbelief as Needletail’s struggles churned up the water. Once, her head broke the surface, and she managed to take a gasping breath. Then Sleekwhisker bounded through the shallows, throwing up splashes that hit Violetpaw in the face. She flung herself on Needletail, pressing her down harder into the lake.

“Stop!” Violetpaw yowled. “Please stop!”

She tried to race down the pebbly shore and into the water, to help her friend, but Roach and Raven held her back while her paws raked helplessly at the ground. Their eyes were mocking as they bared their teeth and dug their claws into her shoulders on either side. With every heartbeat, Violetpaw felt her friend’s life slipping away, while she could do nothing to save her.

“Punish me instead!” she begged Darktail, desperation beginning to overwhelm her. Needletail is the only friend I have left! “I admit it—I was trying to put you to sleep!”

Curiosity flickered in Darktail’s dark-rimmed eyes. He relaxed his grip on Needletail and jerked his head, motioning for Sleekwhisker to step back. Needletail staggered to her paws, water streaming from her pelt, her chest heaving as she fought for breath.

“Why did you do it?” Darktail asked Violetpaw.

“I wanted to sneak out the prisoners,” Violetpaw confessed. She was beyond caring about her own punishment, as hope revived within her. I’ve managed to stop Darktail hurting Needletail, at least for now. “It was all me, though. I put poppy seeds in the prey so you and your Kin would eat them. Needletail had nothing to do with it! She didn’t even know what I was up to!”

Darktail let out a mrrow of mockery. “Is that true?”

Violetpaw nodded vigorously. “It is, I promise!”

Without another word, Darktail signaled to Sleekwhisker, and the two rogue cats seized Needletail and pushed her back under the surface of the lake.

“No!” Violetpaw yowled, seeing how weak her friend’s struggles were becoming. “Don’t—please!”

Darktail turned his malignant gaze on her. “Killing Needletail is a better punishment than if I killed you.” The calm in his voice chilled Violetpaw more than savage anger ever could have. “You’re so attached to this treacherous cat, you’re more afraid of her death than your own. I want you to know what it’s like to live with the pain and grief of losing the one cat who befriended you and took care of you.”

“Oh, please… please, no!” Violetpaw begged again. Every hair on her pelt, every muscle in her body, felt as if it was shrieking in agony.

“I can’t believe I once thought you and Needletail would be my loyal Kin,” Darktail mewed bitterly. “Needletail was the first Clan cat who gave me any notice. I thought she would help me build something here. But then she got involved with that traitor, Rain—and it’s clear to me now that you, Violetpaw, are just as disloyal.”

By now Needletail had stopped struggling; the lake was still around Darktail and Sleekwhisker, who stood holding her down in water up to their bellies. Violetpaw felt something break inside her, like a tree branch giving way under the weight of snow in leaf-bare.

Needletail is the closest thing I have to true kin now, she thought, horror gripping her like a badger’s claws. I don’t even know whether Twigpaw is alive! What will I do without Needletail? Memories of her friend crowded in on her. She sneaked me out of camp to go and visit Twigpaw. She always defended me from Darktail!

Then Darktail’s menacing gaze suddenly softened. “Maybe you’re right, Violetpaw,” he meowed. “Maybe I should give Needletail another chance. What do you think?”

“Oh, yes!” Violetpaw gave a huge gasp of relief. Maybe this has just been another one of Darktail’s cruel tests! “Please give her another chance! I’ll do anything you want!”

Darktail took a pace back, and nodded to Sleekwhisker to do the same. For a moment there was no movement below the surface. Violetpaw stared helplessly at the spot where her friend had disappeared. Oh, StarClan, don’t let it be too late!

Then Needletail’s head broke the surface, her silver-gray fur darkened by the water and plastered to her skull. Her jaws parted and she coughed up a stream of lake water, then took a wheezing breath. Her terrified gaze sought out Violetpaw, but she didn’t speak.

“We’ve been discussing the situation,” Darktail told her, his voice as calm as if they were back in camp, talking over strategy around the fresh-kill pile. “And we have all agreed that we should give you another chance. After all, it’s not really fair to punish you for Violetpaw’s mistake—isn’t that right, Needletail?”

Needletail didn’t respond. Far from looking relieved, her eyes had widened with a look of deep apprehension, as if she was expecting Darktail to say something horrible.

Darktail waited for a moment, then continued, “I’ll be happy to spare your life, Needletail, if you’ll do something for me.”

“What?” Needletail rasped.

“If you kill Violetpaw yourself.”

Violetpaw couldn’t believe what was happening. Deep shudders ran through her body, and her belly cramped as if she was going to vomit as she watched Darktail and Sleek-whisker back farther off, to let Needletail crawl, dripping, out of the lake.

Needletail looked once more at Violetpaw, but Violetpaw couldn’t read any clue to what she meant to do. It was as if there was no cat at all inside her eyes, just terrible emptiness.

“Bring her to me.” Needletail’s voice was ragged, but she was standing erect now, as if she was summoning every scrap of strength she had left.

At her words, Darktail exchanged a surprised glance with his Kin, and Roach let out a snort of laughter. Disgusted, Violetpaw realized they had never expected Needletail to obey. It had just been a cruel joke—another way to torture them both.

Roach and Raven propelled Violetpaw forward until she stood in front of Needletail.

She’s going to do it, Violetpaw thought, still trying to read her friend’s heart in her eyes. She’s going to kill me. And I can’t blame her. I sort of deserve it. Needletail should do what she must to save herself. Didn’t she give me the same advice?

Roach and Raven gave her a final shove; Violetpaw stumbled and fell onto her side. Needletail stared at her as she dropped into a crouch. I wish it could all be over faster, Violetpaw thought despairingly.

Needletail pounced. She landed on top of Violetpaw, who realized with a shock of understanding that her friend’s claws were sheathed. “Run!” she snarled into Violetpaw’s ear.

Then, faster than Violetpaw could have believed possible, Needletail swiveled around and leaped at Roach and Raven, all outstretched claws and bared teeth. Taken completely by surprise, the two rogues staggered back, not even trying to defend themselves.

For a moment, Violetpaw stared at them, too stunned to react.

“Run! Now!” Needletail screeched at her. “Make this count, Violetpaw!”

As Roach and Raven sprang forward again, Darktail and Sleekwhisker began to splash their way out of the lake. Needletail whirled to attack them, too. Violetpaw’s last glimpse of her was of a taut knot of fury, vanishing beneath all four cats at once, her claws still striking out.

She’s sacrificing her life for mine, Violetpaw realized. Of course she is. I should never have doubted her. She’s truly the best friend I’ve ever had, and I can never repay her.

These thoughts took barely a moment to pass through Violetpaw’s mind. Then, feeling as though her heart would break, she turned to run.

Violetpaw dashed along the lakeshore and through the stream that flowed from what had been RiverClan’s camp. Once across, she headed farther inland, dodging around trees and through thorn thickets, looking for narrow places she could slip through that might slow down a bigger cat. She was too scared to work out exactly where she was going, but she knew that, somehow, she had to make it to ThunderClan.

Soon Violetpaw realized that some cat was on her trail. The breeze carried Raven’s scent to her. Needletail’s yowls still split the air behind her, a mixture of rage and pain.

They’re killing her! Violetpaw thought. But she had to push away all her pity and grief, or she knew that she would break under the despair.

I have to lose Raven and get to safety… I have to make sure Needletail’s sacrifice wasn’t for nothing!