CHAPTER 4

Shocked yowls rose from the Clan cats and echoed

through the forest.

Ravenpaw staggered slightly. His right foreleg glistened,

wet with blood that flowed from the deep gash on his

shoulder. “We m-met five RiverClan warriors beside the

stream, not far from the Sunningrocks, ” he went on shakily.

“Oakheart was among them. ”

“Oakheart! ” Graypaw gasped beside Firepaw. “He is

the deputy of RiverClan. He’s one of the greatest warriors

in the forest. Lucky Ravenpaw! Wish it could have been me.

I’d have real y—” Graypaw was silenced by a fierce glance

from the old gray tom who had first sensed Ravenpaw’s

return.

Firepaw turned his attention back to Ravenpaw.

“Redtail warned Oakheart to keep his hunting parties out

of ThunderClan territory. He said the next RiverClan warrior

to be caught in ThunderClan territory would be kil ed, but

Oak…Oakheart would not back down. He said his Cl-Clan

had to be fed, whatever we threatened. ” Ravenpaw paused

to wheeze for breath. His wound was stil bleeding heavily,

and he stood awkwardly to keep the weight off his shoulder.

“That’s when the RiverClan cats attacked. It was hard to

see what was happening. The fighting was vicious. I saw

Oakheart had Redtail pinned to the ground, but then

Redtail…” Suddenly Ravenpaw’s eyes rol ed in his head

and he lurched sideways. Half scrambling, half fal ing, he

slithered off the Highrock and col apsed on the ground

below.

A ginger queen bounded toward him and crouched at

his side. She licked his cheek briefly and cal ed out,

“Spottedleaf! ”

Out of the fern-shaded corner trotted the pretty

tortoiseshel Firepaw had noticed sitting beside Graypaw

earlier. She hurried over to Ravenpaw and mewed for the

queen to stand back. Then she used her smal pink nose to

rol the apprentice over so that she could take a good look

at the wound. She glanced up and meowed, “It’s al right,

Goldenflower, his wounds aren’t fatal. But I’l need to fetch

some cobwebs to stop the bleeding. ”

As Spottedleaf sprinted back to her den, the hushed

silence in the clearing was broken by a mournful howl. Al

eyes turned to the direction it had come from.

A massive dark brown tabby staggered through the

gorse tunnel. Between his sharp teeth the warrior held not

prey, but the lifeless body of another cat. He dragged the

tattered creature into the center of the clearing.

Firepaw craned his neck and glimpsed a flash of bright

ginger tail hanging limply in the dust.

Shock rippled through the Clan like a chil breeze.

Beside Firepaw, Graypaw dropped into a crouch as grief

swept over him. “Redtail! ”

“How did this happen, Tigerclaw? ” demanded Bluestar

from her position on the Highrock.

Tigerclaw let the scruff of Redtail’s neck fal from his

mouth. He looked steadily back at Bluestar. “He died with

honor, struck down by Oakheart. I couldn’t save him, but I

managed to take Oakheart’s life while he was stil gloating

over his victory. ” Tigerclaw’s voice was strong and deep.

“Redtail’s death was not in vain, for I doubt we’l see

RiverClan hunters in our territory again. ”

Firepaw glanced at Graypaw. The apprentice’s eyes

were dark with sadness.

After a moment’s pause, several of the cats moved

forward to lick Redtail’s bedraggled fur. As they groomed

they purred hushed phrases to the dead warrior.

Firepaw whispered into Graypaw’s ear, “What are they

doing? ”

Graypaw didn’t take his eyes off the dead cat as he

replied. “His spirit may have left to join StarClan, but the

Clan wil share tongues with Redtail one last time. ”

“StarClan? ” Firepaw echoed.

“It’s the tribe of heavenly warriors that watches over al

Clan cats. You can see them in Silverpelt. ”

Firepaw looked confused, so Graypaw explained.

“Silverpelt is that thick band of stars you see each night

stretching across the sky. Each star is a StarClan warrior.

Redtail wil be among them tonight. ”

Firepaw nodded, and Graypaw stepped forward to

share tongues with his dead deputy.

Bluestar had remained silent while the first cats came to

pay their respects to Redtail. Now she leaped down from

the Highrock and walked slowly toward Redtail’s body. The

other cats retreated and watched as their leader crouched

down to share tongues with her old comrade one last time.

When she had finished she raised her head and spoke.

Her voice was low and thick with grief, and the Clan

listened in silence. “Redtail was a brave warrior. His loyalty

to ThunderClan could never be doubted. I always relied on

his judgment, for it bore witness to the needs of the Clan,

and was never swayed by self-interest or pride. He would

have made a fine leader. ”

Then she lowered herself onto her bel y, her head

bowed, her paws stretched neatly before her, and silently

she grieved for her lost friend. Several other cats came and

lay down beside her, their bowed heads and hunched

backs echoing her mournful pose.

Firepaw watched. He had not known Redtail, but he

couldn’t help feeling moved as he witnessed the Clan

mourn.

Graypaw came and stood beside him again. “Dustpaw

wil be sad, ” he remarked.

“Dustpaw? ”

“Redtail’s apprentice. That brown-striped tabby over

there. I wonder who his new mentor wil be? ”

Firepaw glanced over at the smal tom who squatted

near Redtail’s body, staring unseeing at the ground.

Firepaw looked past him to the Clan leader. “How long wil

Blusetar sit with him? ” he asked.

“Probably the whole night, ” replied Graypaw. “Redtail

was her deputy for many, many moons. She won’t want to

let him go too quickly. He was one of the best warriors. Not

as big and powerful as Tigerclaw or Lionheart, but quick

and clever. ”

Firepaw looked at Tigerclaw, admiring the strength that

swel ed in his powerful muscles and broad head. His

massive body showed signs of his warrior life. One of his

ears was split into a deep vee shape, and a thick scar

sliced the bridge of his nose.

Suddenly Tigerclaw stood up and stalked over to

Ravenpaw. Spottedleaf was crouching beside Tigerclaw’s

wounded apprentice, using her teeth and front paws to

press wads of cobweb onto his shoulder wound.

Firepaw leaned toward Graypaw and asked, “What’s

Spottedleaf doing? ”

“Stopping the bleeding. It looked like a nasty cut. And

Ravenpaw seemed real y shaken up. He’s always been a

bit jumpy, but I’ve never seen him this bad before. Let’s go

and see if he’s woken up yet. ”

They made their way through the grieving cats toward

the spot where Ravenpaw lay and settled themselves a

respectful distance away to wait until Tigerclaw had

finished speaking.

“So, Spottedleaf. ” Tigerclaw addressed the tortoiseshel

with a confident meow. “How is he? Do you think you can

save him? I’ve spent a lot of time training him up, and I don’t

want my efforts to be wasted at the first battle. ”

Spottedleaf didn’t look up from her patient as she

replied. “Yes, a pity if, after al your valuable training, he

dies in his first fight, eh? ” Firepaw could hear a teasing purr

in her soft mew.

“Wil he live? ” Tigerclaw demanded.

“Of course. He just needs to rest. ”

Tigerclaw snorted and looked down at the motionless

black shape. He jabbed Ravenpaw with one of his front

claws. “Come on, then! Get up! ”

Ravenpaw didn’t move.

“Look at the length of that claw! ” Firepaw hissed.

“Too right! ” replied Graypaw with feeling. “I know I

wouldn’t want to get into a fight with him! ”

“Not so fast, Tigerclaw! ” Spottedleaf placed her paw

over Tigerclaw’s sharp talon and gently moved it away.

“This apprentice needs to keep as stil as possible until the

cut has healed. We don’t want him opening his wound by

jumping about trying to please you. Leave him alone. ”

Firepaw found himself holding his breath as he waited

for Tigerclaw’s reaction. He guessed that few cats dared to

give orders to the warrior like that. The big tabby stiffened,

and seemed about to speak when Spottedleaf mewed

teasingly, “Even you know better than to argue with a

medicine cat, Tigerclaw. ”

Tigerclaw’s eyes flashed at the little tortoiseshel ’s

words. “I wouldn’t dare argue with you, dear Spottedleaf, ”

he purred. He turned to leave and caught sight of Graypaw

and Firepaw. “Who’s this? ” he asked Graypaw, towering

above them.

“He’s the new apprentice, ” Graypaw mewed.

“He smel s like a kittypet! ” snorted the warrior.

“I was a house cat, ” Firepaw meowed boldly, “but I am

going to train to be a warrior. ”

Tigerclaw looked at him with sudden interest. “Ah, yes.

Now I remember. Bluestar mentioned that she had

stumbled across some stray kittypet. So she’s actual y

going to try you out, is she? ”

Firepaw sat up very straight, anxious to impress this

distinguished Clan warrior. “That’s right, ” he mewed

respectful y.

Tigerclaw eyed him thoughtful y. “Then I shal watch your

progress with interest. ”

Firepaw puffed his chest out proudly as Tigerclaw

stalked away. “Do you think he liked me? ”

“I don’t think Tigerclaw likes any apprentices! ”

whispered Graypaw.

Just then Ravenpaw stirred and twitched his ears. “Has

he gone? ” he mumbled.

“Who? Tigerclaw? ” replied Graypaw, trotting toward him.

“Yep, he’s gone. ”

“Hi, there, ” Firepaw began, about to introduce himself.

“Go away, both of you! ” Spottedleaf protested. “How am

I meant to help this cat with al these interruptions! ” She

impatiently flicked her tail at Graypaw and Firepaw and

pushed her way between them and her patient.

Firepaw realized she was serious, despite the lively

glimmer in her warm amber eyes.

“Come on then, Firepaw, ” mewed Graypaw. “I’l show

you around. See you later, Ravenpaw. ”

The two cats left Spottedleaf with Ravenpaw and walked

across the clearing.

Graypaw looked thoughtful. He was clearly taking his

duties as a guide very seriously. “You know the Highrock

already, ” he began, flicking his tail toward the big, smooth

rock. “Bluestar always addresses the Clan from there. Her

den is down there. ” He lifted his nose toward a hol ow in the

side of the Highrock. “Her den was carved out many moons

ago by an ancient stream. ” Hanging lichen draped the

entrance, sheltering the leader’s nest from wind and rain.

“The warriors sleep over here, ” Graypaw went on.

Firepaw fol owed him to a large bush a few paces away

from the Highrock. There was a clear view from here right

down to the gorse entrance into the camp. The branches of

the bush hung low, but Firepaw could see a sheltered

space inside where the warriors made their nests.

“The senior warriors sleep nearest the center, where it’s

warmest, ” explained Graypaw. “They usual y share their

fresh-kil together over by that clump of nettles. The younger

warriors eat nearby. Sometimes they are invited to join the

senior warriors for eating, which is a big honor. ”

“What about the other Clan cats? ” Firepaw asked,

fascinated but feeling rather overwhelmed by al the

traditions and rituals of Clan life.

“Wel, the queens share warrior quarters when they work

as warriors, but when they are expecting kits, or nursing

them, they stay in a nest near the nursery. The elders have

their own place on the other side of the clearing. Come on,

I’l show you. ”

Firepaw trotted after Graypaw, across the clearing, and

past the shadowy corner where Spottedleaf had her den.

They stopped beside a fal en tree that sheltered a patch of

lush grass. Crouched among the soft greenery were four

elderly cats tucking into a plump young rabbit.

“Dustpaw and Sandpaw would have brought them that, ”

whispered Graypaw. “One of the apprentices’ duties is

catching fresh-kil for the elders. ”

“Hel o, youngster, ” one of the elders greeted Graypaw.

“Hel o, Smal ear, ” mewed Graypaw, nodding

respectful y.

“This must be our new apprentice. Firepaw, isn’t it? ”

meowed a second tom. His patchy fur was dark brown, and

there was only a stump where his tail should have been.

“That’s right, ” Firepaw replied, copying Graypaw’s polite

nod.

“I’m Halftail, ” purred the brown tom. “Welcome to the

Clan. ”

“Have you two eaten? ” meowed Smal ear.

Firepaw and Graypaw both shook their heads.

“Wel, there’s enough here. Dustpaw and Sandpaw are

turning into fine hunters. Would you mind if these

youngsters shared a mouse, One-eye? ”

The pale gray queen who lay beside him shook her

head. Firepaw noticed one of her eyes was clouded and

sightless.

“What about you, Dappletail? ”

The other elder, a tortoiseshel she-cat with a gray

muzzle, meowed in a voice cracked with age, “Of course

not. ”

“Thank you, ” mewed Graypaw eagerly. He stepped

forward and took a large mouse from the pile of prey, then

dropped it at Firepaw’s feet. “You stil not tasted mouse? ”

he asked.

“No, ” Firepaw admitted. He suddenly felt excited by the

warm smel s that were rising from this piece of fresh-kil.

His whole body quivered at the thought of sharing his first

real food as a Clan member.

“In that case, you can have first bite. Just save me

some! ” Graypaw dipped his head and stood back to give

Firepaw room.

Firepaw crouched down and took a large bite from the

mouse. It was juicy and tender, and sang with the flavors of

the forest.

“What do you think? ” asked Graypaw.

“Fantastic! ” mumbled Firepaw, his mouth stil ful.

“Move over then, ” mewed Graypaw, stepping forward

and bending his head to take a bite.

As the two apprentices shared the mouse, they listened

to the elders talk among themselves.

“How long before Bluestar appoints a new deputy? ”

asked Smal ear.

“What did you say, Smal ear? ” mewed One-eye.

“I think your hearing has become as poor as your

eyesight! ” snapped Smal ear impatiently. “I said, how long

before Bluestar appoints a new deputy? ”

One-eye ignored Smal ear’s irritated reply and spoke

instead to the tortoiseshel queen. “Dappletail, do you

remember the day many moons ago when Bluestar herself

was appointed deputy? ”

Dappletail mewed earnestly, “Oh, yes! It was not long

after she lost her kits. ”

“She’l not be happy to be appointing a new deputy, ”

Smal ear observed. “Redtail served her long and wel. But

she’l need to make up her mind quickly. According to Clan

custom, the choice has to be made before moonhigh after

the death of the old deputy. ”

“At least this time the choice is obvious, ” meowed

Halftail.

Firepaw raised his head and looked around the

clearing. Who could Halftail mean? To Firepaw, al the

warriors looked worthy of becoming deputy. Perhaps he

meant Tigerclaw; after al, he had avenged Redtail’s death.

Tigerclaw was sitting not far off, his ears angled toward

the elders’ conversation.

As Firepaw stretched with his tongue to lick the last

traces of mouse from his whiskers, Bluestar’s voice cal ed

from the Highrock. Redtail’s body stil lay in the clearing

below, pale gray in the fading light. “A new deputy must be

appointed, ” she meowed. “But first, let us give thanks to

StarClan for the life of Redtail. Tonight he sits with his fel ow

warriors among the stars. ”

Silence fel as al the cats looked up into the sky, which

was beginning to darken as evening crept over the forest.

“And now I shal name ThunderClan’s new deputy, ”

Bluestar continued. “I say these words before the body of

Redtail, so that his spirit may hear and approve my choice. ”

Firepaw looked at Tigerclaw. He couldn’t help noticing

the hunger in the big warrior’s amber eyes as he stared up

at the Highrock.

“Lionheart, ” meowed Bluestar, “wil be the new deputy of

ThunderClan. ”

Firepaw was curious to see Tigerclaw’s reaction. But

the dark warrior’s face revealed nothing as he moved to

congratulate Lionheart with a nudge so hearty that it almost

pushed the golden tabby off balance.

“Why didn’t she make Tigerclaw deputy? ” Firepaw

whispered to Graypaw.

“Probably because Lionheart has been a warrior longer,

so he has a lot more experience, ” Graypaw murmured

back, stil looking up at Bluestar.

Bluestar spoke again. “Redtail was also mentor to young

Dustpaw. Since there must be no delay in the training of our

apprentices, I shal appoint Dustpaw’s new mentor

immediately. Darkstripe, you are ready for your first

apprentice, so you wil continue Dustpaw’s training. You

had a fine mentor in Tigerclaw, and I expect you to pass on

some of the excel ent skil s you were taught. ”

The tabby warrior swel ed with pride as he showed his

acceptance with a solemn nod. He strode over to Dustpaw,

bent his head, and rather awkwardly touched noses with his

new apprentice. Dustpaw flicked his tail respectful y, but his

eyes were stil dul with grief for his lost mentor.

Bluestar raised her voice. “I shal keep a vigil with

Redtail’s body tonight, before we bury him at sunrise. ” She

jumped down from the Highrock and walked over to lie

beside Redtail’s body once more. Many of the other cats

joined her, Dustpaw and Smal ear among them.

“Should we sit with them too? ” Firepaw suggested. He

had to admit the idea didn’t appeal to him much. It had

been a busy day and he was beginning to feel tired. Al he

wanted to do was find somewhere warm and dry to curl up

and sleep.

Graypaw shook his head. “No, only those who were

closest to Redtail wil share his final night. I’l show you

where we sleep. The apprentices’ den is over here. ”

Firepaw fol owed Graypaw to a thick bush of ferns that

lay behind a mossy tree stump.

“Al the apprentices share their fresh-kil by this stump, ”

Graypaw told him.

“How many apprentices are there? ” Firepaw asked.

“Not as many as usual—just me, you, Ravenpaw,

Dustpaw, and Sandpaw. ”

As Graypaw and Firepaw settled themselves beside the

tree stump, a young she-cat crawled out from beneath the

ferns. Her coat was ginger, like Firepaw’s, but much paler,

with barely visible stripes of darker fur.

“So here comes the new apprentice! ” she meowed,

narrowing her eyes.

“Hel o, ” Firepaw mewed.

The young cat sniffed rudely. “He smel s like a kittypet!

Don’t tel me I’m going to have to share my nest with that

revolting stench! ”

Firepaw felt rather taken aback. Since his fight with

Longtail, al the cats had been quite friendly. Maybe they

had just been distracted by Ravenpaw’s news, he thought.

“You’l have to excuse Sandpaw, ” apologized Graypaw.

“I think she must have a furbal stuck somewhere. She’s not

usual y this bad-tempered. ”

“Psst! ” spat Sandpaw crossly.

“Hold on, youngsters. ” The deep voice of Whitestorm

sounded behind the apprentices. “Sandpaw! As my

apprentice, I expected you to be a little more welcoming to

this newcomer. ”

Sandpaw held up her head and looked defiant. “I’m

sorry, Whitestorm, ” she purred, not sounding sorry at al. “I

just didn’t expect to be training with a kittypet, that’s al! ”

“I’m sure you’l get used to it, Sandpaw, ” meowed

Whitestorm calmly. “Now, it’s getting late, and training

starts early tomorrow. You three should get some sleep. ”

He gave Sandpaw a stern look, and she nodded

obediently. As he walked off, she spun around and

vanished into the clump of ferns, sniffing once more as she

brushed past Firepaw.

With a flick of his tail, Graypaw invited Firepaw to fol ow

him, and led the way after Sandpaw. Inside the sleeping

area, the ground was lined with soft moss, and the pale

moonlight turned everything a delicate shade of green. The

air was fragrant with fern scent, and warmer than outside.

“Where do I sleep? ” Firepaw asked.

“Anywhere, just so long as it’s not near me! ” snarled

Sandpaw, who was prodding some moss with her paw.

Graypaw and Firepaw exchanged glances, but said

nothing. Firepaw raked together a pile of moss with his

claws. When he had gathered his bed into a cozy nest, he

circled until it was comfortable and settled down. His whole

body felt drowsy with contentment. This was his home now.

He was a member of ThunderClan.