Thunder Аnd Shadow

Chapter 20

Two sunups later, Violetpaw opened her eyes and blinked through the darkness. Voices in the clearing had woken her. Her breath warm ed her paws as she listened.

A growl m ade her stiffen.

She j erked up her head as a snarl rang through the night air. “Twigpaw! Wake up!” She prodded Twigpaw sharply.

Twigpaw lifted her m uzzle, her eyes hardly opening. “What?” Her mew was slurred with sleep.

“Listen!” Violetpaw strained her ears.

“You can’t come in here!” Scorchfur’s growl sounded bey ond the den walls.

“We have come to take our Clanmate home!” Bramblestar’s mew cut across the growling of ShadowClan warriors.

Twigpaw opened her eyes wide. “Bramblestar!”

Birchpaw and Lionpaw were stirring in their nests.

“What’s all that noise?” Birchpaw sounded half-asleep.

Violetpaw’s heart lurched. “Quick!” She nosed Twigpaw from the nest. “Let’s hide.”

Twigpaw dug her paws deep into the bracken, refusing to be pushed. “Hide? Why? He’s come to rescue m e.”

Violetpaw hardly heard her. “We can tunnel under the brambles at the back of the den and slip out past the dirtplace. If we run fast, we can hide so deep in the forest they’ll never be able to find us!”

Twigpaw stared at her. “But I want to be found.”

Violetpaw froze. “What?” She didn’t understand. Twigpaw had said she wanted to be close to her. They’d talked about being sisters—how that was more im portant than any thing. You made me trust you! “You prom ised we’d always be close.”

Squirrelflight’s growl sounded outside. “We’re stay ing until you give her back.”

“Get out!” Dawnpelt’s hiss was hard with rage.

“Give us Twigpaw!”

Lionblaze! Violetpaw recognized the ThunderClan tom’s mew with a start. ThunderClan had brought its strongest warriors. Panic swirled in her m ind. “Come hide with m e!” she pleaded.

Twigpaw stared at her, her eyes glittering with guilt. “I can’t,” she mewed. “I have to go back to m y Clan.”

Birchpaw j erked his head. He glared at Twigpaw. “You’re not going any where!” With a hiss, he leaped from his nest and slam m ed into her.

“No!” Shock j olted through Violetpaw. “Don’t hurt her!”

The pale brown tom had knocked Twigpaw to the ground and was holding her there.

Violetpaw sank her teeth into his scruff and, with a grunt, dragged him off.

Twigpaw scram bled free and shot from the den.

Birchpaw turned on Violetpaw, snarling.

Lionpaw j um ped from her nest. “What’s happening?”

“ThunderClan has come to take Twigpaw!” Before her denmates could m ove, Violetpaw pushed past them and followed Twigpaw out of the den.

ThunderClan cats bunched near the entrance, pelts bristling. Violetpaw recognized Bramblestar, Squirrelflight, Lionblaze, Cloudtail, and Blossom fall am ong them. Their eyes flashed in the moonlight, glancing at her briefly before their gaze flicked toward the other ShadowClan cats. Did they remember her? She’d been part of their Clan once.

“Twigpaw!” Violetpaw’s heart twisted in her chest as she saw her sister race toward them.

Rippletail lunged at her, but Twigpaw escaped his grasp and zigzagged between Sparrowtail and Mistcloud. She ducked past Scorchfur and Spikefur, who were facing the ThunderClan invaders, their backs arched.

Violetpaw stared in dism ay as Twigpaw flung herself against Squirrelflight and nestled beside her. “You can’t leave!” she wailed.

Twigpaw stared at her from am ong her Clanmates. “I can’t stay.”

Why not? Fury surged through Violetpaw. Why had Twigpaw begged to stay close if she was just going to leave? She padded forward, her pelt bristling as Scorchfur lined up beside Mistcloud, Sparrowtail, and Rippletail. Lionpaw and Birchpaw charged to j oin them.

Tigerheart strode from the shadows and faced the ThunderClan cats. “Do you really think we’re going to let you take her without a fight?”

Bramblestar’s eyes flashed with scorn. “The fight wouldn’t last long.”

Violetpaw shuddered. He was right. With so many ShadowClan cats sick, and so many of the Clan’s young cats with the rogues, ShadowClan’s warriors were outnumbered in their own camp.

“Let them go.” Crowfrost’s mew was hoarse as he padded heavily from his den. He pushed between his Clanmates and faced Bramblestar. “You can take her.”

Scorchfur stared at the ShadowClan deputy, his pelt spiking. “What are you doing?”

“We’ve held ThunderClan’s apprentice long enough,” Crowfrost growled. “It seem ed like a good plan at the start, but now it feels wrong. There is sickness here. We should return her before she gets ill, too. Why should Twigpaw suffer for us?”

“She wasn’t suffering!” Violetpaw cried out desperately.

Scorchfur ignored her. He snarled at Crowfrost. “How else are we going to get the lungwort?”

Spikefur stood beside his denmate. “Our Clanmates are dy ing!”

“ThunderClan knows that,” Crowfrost told the dark brown tom. “WindClan knows that too. If they want to let innocent cats die, then it is for StarClan to j udge them, not us. ShadowClan cats are true warriors.” He turned his accusing gaze on Bramblestar.

Bramblestar’s eyes rounded guiltily. “We tried,” he meowed. “We sent Leafpool and Alderpaw to plead with Onestar. But Onestar is determ ined to make you suffer.”

Crowfrost curled his lip. “And y ou’re going to let him.”

Uncertainty darkened Bramblestar’s gaze. He glanced at Squirrelflight. His warriors shifted around him uneasily. “Let’s go,” he meowed at last.

Violetpaw stared helplessly at Twigpaw. We treated you kindly! You helped Puddleshine!

Surely her sister must feel som e connection with ShadowClan now? “Why can’t you stay?” she mewed plaintively.

Twigpaw looked confused. “ThunderClan is m y Clan.”

But I’m your kin. Violetpaw’s heart dropped like a stone as the ThunderClan cats began to back through the tunnel. She watched Twigpaw as shadow swallowed her. She’s gone.

Tigerheart turned on Crowfrost, his eyes blazing. “How could y ou?”

Spikefur lashed his tail. “You’ve let our only hope disappear.”

Crowfrost stared at them, his gaze clouded. “I couldn’t risk a young cat’s life any longer. What if she got sick here and died?”

“It would have m ade ThunderClan understand our suffering,” Spikefur snapped.

“We should have fought to keep her!” Scorchfur faced him, ears flat.

“A battle wouldn’t have stopped them.” Crowfrost sounded weary. “And even if we’d m anaged to keep Twigpaw, do you really think ThunderClan could make Onestar change his m ind?”

Spikefur curled his lip. “You’re a coward!” he snarled.

Scorchfur puffed out his chest. “Rowanstar would never have let her go.”

“Rowanstar m ay not live through the sickness,” Crowfrost rem inded him gravely.

“He has nine lives,” Scorchfur retorted.

“And he’s losing them one by one.”

Violetpaw’s gasped at Crowfrost’s words. Was it true? Were their leader’s lives really slipping away?

Spikefur thrust his m uzzle close to Crowfrost. “Let’s hope he doesn’t die,” he hissed. “Because y ou’re no leader.”

Dawnpelt hurried to Crowfrost’s side. “That’s not true.”

Tawny pelt j oined her. “Crowfrost m ade the right decision. Twigpaw was spending too much time with the sick cats. She might have become ill too. What would StarClan think if she died because of us? And Onestar is determ ined to make us suffer. You know that. Holding Twigpaw here wasn’t going to change any thing.”

Spikefur growled. “Now we’ll never know.” He turned his tail on Crowfrost and stalked across the clearing. Scorchfur followed, Birchpaw and Lionpaw at his heels. Rippletail and Mistcloud glanced nervously at each other before following the disgruntled cats. Tigerheart padded toward the shadows, his pelt rippling uneasily.

Tawny pelt blinked at Crowfrost. “You m ade the right decision.”

Dawnpelt nudged him toward his den. “It’s just a few ruffled pelts, that’s all. They’ll be sm ooth again by the m orning.”

A few ruffled pelts. Violetpaw watched her Clan m elt into the shadows, her heart aching.

Twigpaw was gone. She’d chosen to go. Sorrow clouded Violetpaw’s eyes. Why did I ever let myself believe that she truly loved me?

Violetpaw pressed dripping m oss to Kinkfur’s m outh, just as Twigpaw had taught her. The den felt stuffy, warm ed by the bright newleaf sun. Outside, sunshine sliced across the clearing.

After Twigpaw had left, Violetpaw hadn’t been able to go back to sleep. Instead she’d come to help Puddleshine. At least here the stench of sickness blocked out the lingering scent of Twigpaw.

Kinkfur wheezed, pushing the m oss away as a spasm of coughing gripped her. The old she-cat j erked weakly in her nest, helpless against the seizure. Fear sparked through Violetpaw’s pelt.

“Puddleshine!” She j erked her m uzzle toward the medicine cat. He was leaning over Snakekit, gently dabbing green pulp around her jaws.

He turned sharply as Violetpaw called. His gaze flicked to Kinkfur, still twitching in her nest.

The coughing gave way to a rattling wheeze. She seem ed no more than fur and bones, shaken by a cruel wind. “Fetch thyme!” Puddleshine ordered.

Violetpaw stared at him. “I don’t know what it looks like!”

“It has woody stem s and sm all leaves—” Puddleshine stopped as Kinkfur fell lim p.

Violetpaw stiffened with panic. “I’ll go and look.”

“There’s no need.” Puddleshine’s mew was desolate. He stared at the old she-cat, his eyes m isting.

“She’s dead?” Violetpaw felt cold. Kinkfur was ly ing still, as though she was sleeping.

“Perhaps the sickness has gone away and she’s just resting.” Kinkfur couldn’t be dead.

Gently Puddleshine touched Kinkfur’s flank with his paw. “She’s with StarClan now.”

“No!” Shock sparked through Violetpaw’s fur as she suddenly saw the stillness of death. She looked like prey. Overwhelm ed, Violetpaw bolted for the entrance. She raced across the clearing, ignoring the surprised stares of her Clanmates.

“Where are you going?” Dawnpelt’s mew rang across the clearing.

Violetpaw didn’t answer. She raced through the entrance tunnel and burst from the camp.

Gulping the pine-scented air outside, she tried to fight the waves of grief washing over her. Her Clanmates were dying. Twigpaw was gone. There was no one in the Clan she could talk to. Not really talk to. For a m om ent she wondered where Needletail was. Needletail would know what to say. She’d flick her tail carelessly and tell Violetpaw not to worry. She’d say that Kinkfur would be happier ly ing in the warm sunshine of StarClan’s hunting grounds than coughing in a stuffy nest.

She’d tell her that she didn’t need Twigpaw because she had her.

I should have stayed with her. Violetpaw had tried not to think of her friend since she’d rej oined ShadowClan. She’d tried not to worry how Needletail might be getting along with the rogues and had kept her thoughts focused on the present. She’d tried to put her Clanmates first. Now, with a stab of grief, Violetpaw realized that Needletail had never abandoned her. When she’d left, she’d taken Violetpaw with her. I abandoned her. Guilt pricked through Violetpaw’s pelt.

She headed away from camp.

“Where are you going?” Dawnpelt padded from the camp and called after her.

Violetpaw looked over her shoulder. “Kinkfur died,” she meowed bluntly. “I need to get som e fresh air.”

Dawnpelt stared at her, shock sparking in her gaze. “She’s dead?”

“Yes.” Violetpaw turned away and headed between the trees. She heard Dawnpelt’s fur brush the brambles as the cream -colored she-cat hurried back into camp.

Paws heavy, Violetpaw walked on. The forest floor was warm where the sun reached it and chilly where shadows lingered. Pushing all thoughts from her m ind, Violetpaw found herself wandering toward her old territory —the land held by the rogues. Do I want to see Needletail?

Violetpaw couldn’t decide. She wanted Needletail to com fort her, like she had when Violetpaw was a kit. But she knew that Needletail was unlikely to treat her kindly if she ever ran into her again.

As Violetpaw felt her chest sink in regret, she heard a fam iliar voice.

“Well, well.” Needletail slid out from behind a pine and blocked her path. “Look who we have here.”

Violetpaw’s heart leaped. “Needletail!” Her old friend’s fur looked glossy. Muscles rippled over her shoulders. Violetpaw broke into a purr.

Needletail scowled and looked over her shoulder. Rain followed her onto the path and stopped beside her. His injured eye was gone. Pale fur covered the space where it had once been. His rem aining eye flitted coldly over Violetpaw.

Violetpaw felt an icy chill settle in her belly. Needletail didn’t look pleased to see her. “I’m sorry I left like I did,” she mewed hurriedly. “I just didn’t know what else to do.”

Needletail narrowed her eyes. “So you ran away in the night.”

“I wasn’t running away.” Violetpaw pushed back guilt. “I just didn’t feel like I belonged there any more.”

Was that hurt sharpening Needletail’s gaze? Violetpaw leaned closer. “I’m really sorry. I should have talked to y ou. But…” Her mew trailed away as she glanced at Rain. Were Needletail and Rain mates now? Perhaps she’d chosen the right time to leave. May be Needletail didn’t have room for friends in her life any more.

She realized that Needletail was staring at her, m alice shim m ering in her green gaze. There was no hurt there now, only threat. Violetpaw backed away. “H-how are the others?” she asked nervously.

“What do you care?” Needletail hissed. “You’re a ShadowClan cat now. That is where y ou went, isn’t it?” She sniffed Violetpaw’s pelt. “You smell like a Clan cat.”

Violetpaw suddenly felt very sm all.

“Why did you go back?” Needletail’s question sounded more like an accusation.

Violetpaw glanced at Rain again, staring at his lost ey e.

Rain’s whiskers twitched with am usem ent. “I think she was scared som eone would spoil her pretty face.”

“Coward, eh?” Needletail stepped closer.

Violetpaw flinched. “I belong in a Clan,” she mewed quietly.

“Traitor!” Needletail’s ears flattened.

You betrayed y our Clan! Violetpaw wished she had the courage to say it. Needletail had been born in ShadowClan. They were her kin. They only took me in because of the prophecy. But Rain and Needletail were staring at her m alevolently. “Every cat has to find their own path.”

Needletail snorted. “You even sound like a Clan cat!”

“It’s where I belong.” Violetpaw was determ ined to appear brave, even though her heart was pounding.

Needletail backed away, her eyes glittering. “So you let m e wake up alone, wondering where y ou’d gone!”

Violetpaw hesitated. That is sadness! Was the sleek silver she-cat truly hurt that Violetpaw had left her? “I couldn’t stay,” she mewed helplessly.

Needletail showed her teeth. “We could take you back with us now. I’m sure Darktail would be delighted to have his special Clan cat back.”

“I don’t want to go back to the rogues!” Violetpaw tried to stop her paws from trem bling.

“Who say s you get a choice?” Needletail hissed.

Violetpaw stared at her pleadingly. “I’m sorry, Needletail. I just want to go home.”

Needletail glanced at Rain. “What do you think?” she asked. “Should we take her back to camp with us?”

Rain stared at Violetpaw, his gaze betray ing nothing.

Violetpaw’s breath stopped in her throat. She glanced around the forest, looking for som e escape. Perhaps if she bolted for the brambles bey ond the ditch, she’d be able to lose them in the tangled branches. Or she could just head back the way she’d come. She was light on her paws.

She might be able to outrun them.

“Well?” Needletail pressed. “Should we take her?”

“No.”

Rain’s mew washed Violetpaw like a cool breeze. She let out a breath as he went on.

“We don’t want cats who don’t want us. Besides, she’s too soft.” He sniffed. “There’s still kit fluff behind her ears.”

As her shoulders loosened, he glared at her. “But I’m sure we’ll be seeing you again.”

Fear j abbed her belly. As he stalked away with Needletail, Violetpaw realized she was shaking. She backed away, then turned and raced for camp.

Dam p air settled over the clearing as the sun sank behind the trees. Violetpaw crouched at the edge of camp, a half-eaten m ouse beside her. Her Clanmates m oved quietly around the body ly ing in the m iddle. Kinkfur had been carried from the den and placed there, her paws tucked neatly beneath her. Tawny pelt and Dawnpelt had sm oothed her fur. Mistcloud, Sparrowtail, and Ratscar had gathered pinecones and early prim rose and laid them around her body. Now they sat in the twilight, ready to begin the vigil.

Violetpaw watched them, her thoughts j um bled. Twigpaw had left; Kinkfur had died; Needletail was no longer her friend. Did I think she would be, after I left her like that? She couldn’t forget the flash of pain in Needletail’s gaze as she’d spoken about waking up and finding Violetpaw gone.

Crowfrost padded from his den. He m oved stiffly, like an elder. His fur was unkem pt.

Violetpaw sat up, unease tugging in her belly. Was he just grieving? Or was som ething else wrong?

He stopped beside Kinkfur’s body and beckoned his Clanmates closer with a flick of his tail.

Violetpaw crossed the clearing and stopped beside Lionpaw and Birchpaw. Puddleshine blinked at her from the other side of Kinkfur’s body. Scorchfur and Spikefur sat together, their gazes dark.

“Kinkfur was a loy al ShadowClan cat for many moons before I was born.” Crowfrost’s mew was hoarse. “And she rem ained loy al and kind to the end. She fought beside us against the Dark

Forest cats. She was at the front of every battle. She defended her Clanmates as though she were defending her own kits.”

As the ShadowClan deputy went on, Spikefur narrowed his eyes, watching him as though watching prey.

“StarClan will welcome her. She has many friends there, and a kit, Dewkit, and long day s of endless hunting lie ahead of her.” He dipped his head. “She will be remembered.”

Ratscar leaned down to grasp a prim rose between his teeth. He lifted it and laid it on Kinkfur’s body. Kinkfur’s surviving kits, Mistcloud and Sparrowtail, leaned close, touching their noses to her pelt one last tim e. As Ratscar settled down beside his old friend, Crowfrost began coughing.

His Clanmates turned to watch as Crowfrost crouched, his body j erking. His rasping coughs echoed in the evening air. Violetpaw stiffened. For the first time she saw that his gaze was glassy with fever. Fear spiked through her chest as Puddleshine hurried to the deputy’s side.

“Fetch tansy!” Puddleshine called.

No cat m oved.

The ShadowClan deputy was ill. No one was left to lead.

Violetpaw felt weak with dread. Was sickness going to destroy the Clan?