Thunder Аnd Shadow

Chapter 6

Twigkit swallowed the last morsel of vole and licked her lips. She was bored, and even though the sun was high, it was chilly in camp. Did Alderpaw need som e help? She knew Jayfeather would be irritated to see her again, but she’d given up worry ing about his grum bling. She guessed he enj oy ed it. She got to her paws, skirted the clearing, and headed toward the medicine den. As she passed the camp entrance, she could still sm ell the scent of WindClan around the thorn tunnel.

Emberfoot and Oatclaw had left at dawn. In the day s since the fight, Jayfeather and Alderpaw had cared for them as though they were Clanmates. Twigkit had been proud to help, fetching m oss for their nests and bringing fresh-kill from the pile. Alderpaw had even let her m ix herbs once when Jayfeather was out of the den.

As soon as the WindClan warriors’ wounds were healed enough for them to travel, they’d returned to their camp. Twigkit had guessed by the prickling of their fur as they talked of going home that they were worried about their Clanmates. The fight with the rogues had unsettled them.

It had unsettled every one. Bramblestar had been sending out larger patrols to hunt and insisted the borders be checked day and night.

“Twigkit!” Lily heart called from outside the nursery. She had settled in a patch of weak sunlight. “Aren’t you sleepy? You were up before dawn. Come and have a nap.”

Twigkit flicked her tail. “No, thanks,” she mewed back. “I’m fine.” She didn’t feel at all tired.

She’d done nothing all m orning apart from wander around the camp: nosing through ferns in hope of catching a frog, and practicing balancing on the fallen beech.

Larkkit, Leafkit, and Honey kit were outside the nursery too, dozing lazily beside their mother, the cool leaf-fall wind ruffling their fur. Twigkit felt a pang of frustration. She knew from experience that it was pointless asking them to play with her. Even when they agreed, they ran so fast and got bored so quickly that she always felt disappointed. She preferred hanging out with Alderpaw. At least she felt she was useful in the medicine den, despite Jayfeather’s scowling at her like she was an unwanted flea. Briarlight loved play ing m oss-ball with her, and it was good exercise for the crippled she-cat. Perhaps she could play with her now.

She padded past the warriors’ den, scanning the camp for a good-sized scrap of m oss.

“Do you really think she’s the cat that StarClan was try ing to tell us about—the one who will clear the sky?”

Rosepetal’s mew drifted through the prickly wall of the den and m ade Twigkit stop. Who was Rosepetal talking about?

Mousewhisker answered her, a y awn in his mew. “For a special cat, she’s pretty ordinary.”

“I guess she is young,” Rosepetal conceded. “But nothing has changed since she arrived.

Nothing’s gotten better. In fact, things have gotten worse, with the rogues coming.”

“You’re right. Besides, if she was special, wouldn’t StarClan have sent more of a sign?”

Mousewhisker’s nest rustled. “I know they were found ‘in shadow,’ but that doesn’t seem like enough.”

Twigkit leaned closer to the den wall and pricked her ears. They’re talking about me and Violetkit!

“Perhaps the prophecy was about som ething else,” Rosepetal meowed thoughtfully.

“And finding Twigkit and Violetkit was a coincidence,” Mousewhisker concluded.

“Like you say, Twigkit does seem pretty ordinary. And until she learns to hunt, she’s another belly for the Clan to fill.” Rosepetal sighed. “Let’s just hope leaf-bare is m ild. Heavy snows mean scarce prey. There m ay not be enough to get us through to newleaf.”

Another belly to fill? Anxiety pricked through Twigkit’s pelt. And what did they mean by ordinary? Had the Clan only taken her in because they believed she was part of a prophecy? Her breath caught in her throat. What if she wasn’t special? Would they ask her to leave? If there wasn’t enough prey during leaf-bare, they might! She im agined wandering alone through the forest, thick snows piling between the trees, a cold wind slicing through her fur. She could picture foxes watching from the undergrowth, their hungry gazes sharpening as they saw her. How would I survive alone?

Outside the nursery, Larkkit rolled over sleepily and stretched.

If only I were Clanborn. They couldn’t throw me out. She lifted her chin determ inedly. I have to prove that I’m special!

Pelt twitching nervously, Twigkit hurried toward the medicine den. She pushed through the brambles.

Alderpaw turned. His eyes rounded with worry as he saw her. “Is som ething wrong?”

Twigkit forced her fur to sm ooth and blinked at him innocently. “No.” She wanted to run to his side and feel his com forting warmth against her. She wanted to ask him if she was special and hear him tell her that of course she was. But he was standing beside Jayfeather.

“Look at this, Alderpaw,” Jayfeather mewed curtly, ignoring Twigpaw’s arrival. “Can you see any signs of infection?”

The medicine cat was inspecting a cut on Birchfall’s paw, and Twigkit knew that he wouldn’t be pleased if she interrupted.

Alderpaw peered closely at the warrior’s pad. “It looks like a clean cut.”

“How should we treat it?” Jayfeather asked.

“Cobweb,” Alderpaw replied.

Jayfeather lifted his gaze sharply toward his apprentice. “Just cobweb?” Irritation edged his mew.

Alderpaw shifted his paws, his eyes flitting nervously toward the herb store.

“Just because there’s no infection now doesn’t mean one won’t develop,” Jayfeather meowed.

“We could wash in som e m arigold pulp before we dress it,” Alderpaw suggested hopefully.

“Go and fetch som e, then!” Jayfeather turned his attention back to Birchfall’s paw, turning it gently with his own to closer exam ine the warrior’s pad.

As Birchfall winced, the brambles swished beside Twigkit.

Whitewing lim ped in, pain darkening her gaze. “I have an ache in m y side,” she m urm ured.

Jayfeather dropped Birchfall’s paw and hurried toward her.

“When did it start?” He sniffed the white she-cat’s breath, then ran his m uzzle along her flank.

“Around dawn. After I’d eaten a m ouse.”

“Did it come on suddenly?” Jayfeather asked.

“Quite sharply, but it’s been getting worse all m orning.”

“Have you vom ited?” Jayfeather pressed his paw into Whitewing’s flank.

She gasped with pain.

“Well?” He padded around Whitewing and pressed her flank on the other side.

“No,” she rasped. “I don’t feel sick.”

“Come here, Alderpaw.” Jayfeather flicked his tail.

Alderpaw stared across the medicine den, a bundle of m arigold in his m outh.

“Hurry up!” Jayfeather snapped.

Alderpaw dropped the m arigold and hurried toward his m entor.

“Press here.” Jayfeather pointed to Whitewing’s flank.

Alderpaw lifted his paw slowly and pressed gently against her pelt.

“Harder!” Jayfeather ordered. “She won’t even feel that.”

Twigkit saw Alderpaw’s eyes flash with trepidation as he pushed harder into Whitewing’s side.

Whitewing winced.

“Sorry,” Alderpaw mewed quickly.

Jayfeather huffed. “If you apologize to a patient every time you hurt them, y ou’ll never get any thing done. Now, what did you feel?”

“It feels hard beneath her pelt,” Alderpaw answered.

“Trapped wind.” Jayfeather turned back to Birchfall. “She ate her m ouse too quickly. How should you treat it?”

I know! Twigkit leaned forward excitedly. She remembered Honey kit’s belly ache. She willed Alderpaw to remember.

But Alderpaw stared helplessly at Jayfeather.

“Chervil root!” Twigkit blurted. See! I am special!

Jayfeather’s whiskers twitched irritably. “Chervil is for nausea,” he snapped. “Trapped wind needs watermint. And no one was asking y ou. If you must hang around the den, keep quiet!”

Twigkit shriveled beneath her pelt, hot with sham e.

Alderpaw brushed past her as he hurried toward the medicine store. “Don’t listen to him,” he whispered.

Twigkit hardly heard him. Why is Jayfeather so mean to me? She stiffened as a thought flashed in her m ind. He talks to StarClan. Have they told him I’m not special?

“There are only a few leaves left.” Alderpaw reached deep into the crack and hooked out a pawful of dusty stem s.

“Then we’ll have to collect more,” Jayfeather meowed briskly. “But not today. It’s too far to the lake. Give Whitewing all the waterm int we have; then chew up som e pulp for Birchfall’s cut while I gather fresh cobweb.”

As Jayfeather padded from the den, Twigkit watched Alderpaw drop the dusty leaves beside

Whitewing. They were large and pale. She tried to im agine what they’d look like when they were fresh. A thought struck her. I know how to prove I’m special! I’ll fetch more watermint from the lake. Then the Clan will see how clever and useful I am, and they won’t want to get rid of me. Her heart lifted like an escaping butterfly.

“I’ll see you later,” she called to Alderpaw.

“You don’t have to leave.” Alderpaw looked at her apologetically. “Jayfeather doesn’t mean half the things he say s.”

Twigkit lifted her tail happily. “That’s okay. I have som ething im portant to do.”

“What?” Alderpaw blinked at her curiously.

Twigkit hesitated. “Um m m… I have to find a new feather for Violetkit. In case you visit

Leafpool again,” she mewed hurriedly.

Alderpaw scooped up a m outhful of m arigold and began chewing. “Good luck.” His mew was m uffled.

“Thanks.” Twigkit nodded politely to Whitewing and Birchfall and backed out of the den. She bum ped into som ething soft.

“Look where y ou’re going!” Jayfeather’s hiss m ade her j um p as she got tangled in his paws.

Brushing her away, he ducked into the medicine den.

Twigkit stared after him crossly. Next time you’re going to be happy to see me!

She crossed the clearing, scanning the camp nervously. Graystripe was dozing outside the elders’ den. Honey kit was crouched beside the ferns nearby, clearly watching for frogs. Lily heart had disappeared. She must be resting in the nursery. Bramblestar and Squirrelflight were sharing a m ouse on the Highledge, while Leafkit and Larkkit were inventing battle m oves in the clearing.

Poppy frost, Ambermoon, and Snowbush were watching them. The other cats must be in their dens or out on patrol, Twigkit decided as she padded toward the thorn barrier. She avoided the camp entrance. It was too risky. Instead she ducked behind the warriors’ den. Out of sight of the clearing, she searched the bottom of the thorn barrier for a gap. She could see a patch where the branches didn’t twine so thickly on the ground. She squeezed through, wincing as thorns scraped her pelt. Eyes screwed tight shut, she pushed forward until she burst free.

I made it! Quickly she checked the leafy rise outside camp. I’m outside! The trail was clear, and she hurried along it, her ears pricked for patrols. She veered off, then ducked between the bracken stem s crowding the slope. Excitem ent fizzed in her paws. Ordinary kits weren’t meant to leave camp. But she was special, and every one would know it when she returned with a huge bundle of waterm int. Jayfeather was going to be so grateful. He’d never be mean to her again!

And Rosepetal and Mousewhisker would be em barrassed that they’d ever suggested she wasn’t special.

She nosed her way out of the bracken and stared across a wide glade where the forest dipped down toward a dried stream bed before rising toward a wall of brambles. Which way was the lake? She paused, opening her m outh and letting forest scents wash over her tongue. Fear clutched her heart as unfam iliar sm ells crowded in. What was that sharp stench? Fox? Owl? Rogue? She glanced around, her heart thundering in her ears. Som ething sm all skittered across the stream bed.

Above, leaves fluttered in the chilly breeze, and branches creaked as they sway ed.

Twigkit lifted her chin. I’m special, she rem inded herself, feeling a little less special than she had in camp. I have to prove it, or they’ll make me leave. Her belly tightened. I have to find the lake. Ignoring the fear fluttering in her chest, she padded down the slope and hopped over the dry stream bed. She felt sure she’d be able to see if she was going the right way if she could make it past the brambles. She clim bed the rise and squeezed through a gap in the prickly branches. As she em erged on the other side, the scent of water stream ed over her m uzzle. The breeze carried lake scent. It must be lake scent. She could sm ell wet stone and earth and im agined a large pool, water lapping at its edges. In front of her, the forest sloped downward. Were those ripples sparkling in the distance? She broke into a run, zigzagging between trees and scram bling over roots. Her paws slipped on the fallen leaves, and she tum bled clum sily into a patch of nettles.

Stings sparked through her nose and she leaped backward, blinking away the pain. Running again, she raced toward the sunshine, which glinted between the tree trunks.

Suddenly she burst from the forest. Wind tugged at her fur, and a wide grassy slope plunged away from her. She gasped. The lake! It stretched out as big as the sky in front of her. Glittering like Silverpelt, it rippled in the breeze. She strained to see the far shore, am azed at how tiny the trees looked from here. Farther along, the land rose to heather-pelted hilltops, and bey ond that an island rose from the water.

There must be watermint here! The shore stretched so far, Twigkit felt sure she’d find the pale green leaves som ewhere at the water’s edge. She hurried down the slope, her paws slithering on the dewy grass. As she reached the pebbly shore, she slowed, picking her way over the stones and wincing where they j abbed into her soft pads.

She scanned the shore. Tiny waves lapped the pebbles, but there was no sign of plants. She followed the waterline, keeping her paws clear of the rippling water. Straining to see ahead, she spotted greenery sprouting around a m ass of boulders j utting out into the lake. Her heart leaped.

Watermint? She glanced at the sky, between the white puffy clouds. Oh, StarClan. Let it be watermint!

Excitem ent surged in her belly as she neared and recognized the wide, pale leaves she’d seen in the medicine den. They weren’t dusty or dry, but she could already detect the sam e sharp scent she’d sm elled on the leaves Jayfeather had given to Whitewing. StarClan answered my prayer! Joy surged through Twigkit. I must be special.

She clim bed onto the first boulder, unsheathing her claws to grip the sm ooth stone. The waterm int was growing in clum ps between the rocks that j utted into deeper water. She scram bled toward them, clambering over boulder after boulder until she was right at the edge where thick leaves sprouted.

I’ll take back the biggest bundle ever! Twigkit im agined the surprised look on her Clanmates’ faces as she walked into camp, a great wad of waterm int in her jaws. Larkkit, Leafkit, and Honey kit would be am azed. They might even let her j oin in their frog hunts. Every one would congratulate her. Jayfeather would come out of his den to see what the fuss was about. Then he’d sm ell the m int and have to thank her.

Happily, Twigkit hooked her claws into the biggest leaf and tugged. To her surprise, it didn’t tear free of the clum p. The force of her tug unbalanced her, and she j erked clum sily. Her paws slid from beneath her. Her heart lurched as her rum p hit the rock. She let go of the leaves, scrabbling to find her paws, but they slithered on the sm ooth stone. Help! She felt herself falling.

With a y elp of horror, she plunged into the lake.

The chill of the water stole her breath. Terror scorched through her as she sank. She flailed desperately, opening her m outh to mew, choking on the water that rushed in. Bubbles stream ed around her as the water washed through her fur. It stung her eyes and filled her ears. She struggled, tum bling as currents caught her and dragged her deeper. StarClan, help me! She struck out, try ing to pull herself to the surface, but light seem ed to glim m er on every side. Which way is up? Her panic spiraled. I can’t find my way out! Her lungs ached for air. I’m dying! How could this happen? I’m a special kit!

Suddenly a voice sounded through the roaring of blood in her ears. Twigkit. She stopped struggling, letting the water swirl her like a leaf. Twigkit! The voice sounded again, and she recognized it with a flicker of hope.

Is that my mother? She had forgotten that gentle, fam iliar purr. She’d only been with her mother for a few day s, and since Alderpaw had carried her back to ThunderClan, she’d been unable to remember even the touch of her fur. Now her mother’s scent surrounded her.

Swim, my special kit, swim!

At her mother’s command, Twigkit flailed once more, try ing to fight her way to the surface.

Her lungs bursting, she fought the water as it dragged her down. I’m not strong enough! Help me!

Teeth sank into her scruff, biting into her fur and j erking her upward. Mother? Lim p with shock, she felt herself being pulled. The water around her grew lighter and lighter until, like prey escaping the jaws of a fox, she burst into fresh air.

She gulped it down, struggling to fill her lungs and coughing helplessly. The teeth held onto her scruff, dragging her until she felt pebbles brush her paws. She let herself be hauled, helpless, onto the shore. “You saved m e,” she mewed weakly. Her mother had come back! She rescued me!

Dazed, Twigkit coughed up water from her lungs and belched it from her belly.

“Twigkit?” A ginger she-cat was leaning over her, eyes flashing with fear. “Are you okay?”

Twigkit blinked in surprise. “Sparkpaw?” Disappointm ent j abbed her chest. It wasn’t my mother.

Fighting grief, she let her thoughts clear. Of course it wasn’t her mother. I’m a mouse-brain! What would her mother be doing here, beside the lake? She struggled to her paws, forcing a purr. “You saved m e, Sparkpaw! Thank y ou!” Coughing, she collapsed.

Sparkpaw sat down, her wet pelt stream ing. “What in StarClan are you doing here? Did y ou want to see what it’s like being a RiverClan cat?”

Twigkit blinked at her, sham e sweeping over her so hotly it drove the chill of the water from her pelt. “I cam e to fetch waterm int,” she mewed weakly.

Sparkpaw’s eyes widened. “Did Alderpaw send y ou?”

Twigkit shook her head. “It was m y idea. I wanted to help the Clan.”

“I’m not sure drowning y ourself is very helpful.” Sparkpaw shook out her pelt, spraying Twigkit with water.

Paws thrum m ed toward them and pebbles cracked as another cat leaped onto the shore.

Twigkit looked up and saw Cherry fall.

The warrior stared at Twigkit. “You were right, Sparkpaw,” she meowed in surprise. “It was a kit on the shore. I was sure it was an otter.”

“Otters can swim.” Sparkpaw butted Twigkit play fully with her m uzzle.

Twigkit blinked at her helplessly. She was cold, em barrassed, and exhausted.

Cherry fall slid past her apprentice. “I won’t ask what you were doing by the lake, Twigkit. We need to get you home and warm as soon as possible.” She crouched. “Clim b onto m y back. I’ll carry you back to camp.”

Twigkit reached up and tried to haul herself onto the warrior’s shoulders, but her paws weren’t strong enough. She felt Sparkpaw’s m uzzle beneath her haunches as, with a grunt, the apprentice boosted her up.

Twigkit clung on, relishing the warmth pulsing from Cherry fall’s pelt. Closing her eyes, she let the warrior carry her home.

“Why did you even leave the camp?” Jayfeather scolded as he tucked her deep into

Emberfoot’s discarded nest.

“I was try ing to help,” Twigkit rasped sadly. She glanced toward the entrance, hoping Alderpaw would arrive. Would he be cross with her too? She couldn’t bear not knowing.

“Kits should not try to help. They cause nothing but trouble!” He folded dry m oss around her.

“Briarlight, wrap y ourself around her. We need to get her warm.”

Briarlight slid gently into the nest beside Twigkit and curled close. Twigkit was still shivering, her throat sore from coughing up water. She could hear the Clan m urm uring outside. They’d gathered around as Cherry fall had carried her into camp.

“Where did you find her?”

“Did the rogues kidnap her?”

“What was she doing out of camp?”

“How did she get so wet?”

Anxious voices had surrounded her, and she had buried her m uzzle deep into Cherry fall’s fur and closed her eyes. This wasn’t the heroic return she had planned. She hadn’t even brought back any waterm int.

Now, in Emberfoot’s nest, she heard Lily heart’s mew.

“Where is she?” The queen pushed her way through the brambles.

Twigkit peeped at her from the m oss.

“Cherry fall said y ou’d gone to the lake.” Lily heart sounded as cross as Jayfeather. “How could you leave the camp? I’m asham ed of y ou. What will the Clan think?”

Twigkit shrank deeper into the nest.

Jayfeather stepped in front of the queen. “She needs rest,” he told Lily heart. “You can growl at her when she’s recovered.”

Lily heart fluffed out her pelt indignantly. “I’m supposed to be looking after her.”

“Then you shouldn’t have let her wander out of camp.” Jayfeather steered Lily heart firm ly toward the entrance. “Especially when there are rogues in the forest.”

Lily heart grunted and stalked from the medicine den.

Twigkit blinked at Jayfeather. Had he actually defended her?

He headed for the back of the den. “I’ll m ix you som e herbs for the shock,” he mewed over his shoulder. “And don’t complain if they taste bad. You deserve every thing you get.”

As he spoke, Alderpaw raced through the brambles and skidded to a halt beside Twigkit’s nest.

“I was out gathering oak leaves.” He was panting. “Cherry fall told m e when I got back. Twigkit!

What happened? What were you doing by the lake?”

Twigkit blinked at him, bracing herself for another scolding, but Alderpaw was staring at her, his eyes wide with fear. “Are you okay?”

“She’ll be fine.” Jayfeather growled from the back of the den. “Briarlight’s warm ing her up and I’m mixing some thyme and poppy seeds for her.”

Alderpaw leaned forward and nudged Briarlight with his nose. “Let me take your place,” he mewed softly. As Briarlight m oved away, he slid into the nest and wrapped him self around

Twigkit. His fam iliar scent soothed her.

“Sparkpaw said you were try ing to help,” he m urm ured softly. “How could you help by going to the lake?”

“I wanted to get waterm int,” Twigkit whispered, her throat tightening. “You’d run out, and I wanted to prove I was special.” Her heart seem ed to crack as the words tum bled out.

“Mousewhisker and Rosepetal said they thought I wasn’t special. They said there was a prophecy.

The Clan thought I was part of it but I’m not. They said I was just an ordinary cat. But if I’m just an ordinary cat, the Clan won’t want m e any more. So I had to prove I was special.”

Alderpaw squeezed tighter around her and for the first tim e, Twigkit stopped shivering. “Of course y ou’re special! StarClan led Needlepaw and m e to y ou. And the Clan will always want y ou. You’re one of us now, and nothing will ever change that.”

You’re one of us now. His words soothed her. Twigkit relaxed against him and began to purr.

“Alderpaw!”

Sparkpaw’s mew m ade her j um p. The flam e-colored apprentice burst through the brambles.

Her eyes were shining. “Cherry fall told Bramblestar that I rescued Twigkit, and he say s it’s time for m y assessm ent. You know what that means? I’m going to be a warrior!”

Twigkit felt Alderpaw stiffen beside her.

“A warrior already?” His mew was tight. “That’s great, Sparkpaw. That’s really great.”

“I know!” Sparkpaw paced. “I can’t wait for m y cerem ony. That’s if I pass m y assessm ent. I will pass, won’t I?” She glanced anxiously at Alderpaw but didn’t give him a chance to answer.

“Of course I will. I’ve been training so hard for this m om ent. I wonder where the hunting assessm ent will be. I hope they choose the glade beside the stream. There are always squirrels there…”

Twigkit’s attention slid away. The warmth of Alderpaw and the nest was m aking her drowsy.

Her ey elids felt heavy. As she closed them and sleep began to pull at her pelt, she wondered why

Alderpaw had felt so tense when Sparkpaw had told him about her nam ing cerem ony. He was happy for his sister, wasn’t he? Of course he was. Darkness swirled around her. Why shouldn’t he be?