CHAPTER 18

“Are you telling Firepaw how I protected Redtail? ”

Firepaw felt a cold shiver ruffle the fur on the back of his

neck.

Ravenpaw whipped around, eyes wide with fear.

Tigerclaw loomed over them, his lips drawn back in a

menacing snarl.

Firepaw jumped up and faced the new deputy. “He was

just saying he wished you had been here to take care of

Lionheart as wel, that’s al! ” he mewed, thinking quickly.

Tigerclaw looked from one to the other, then stalked

away in silence. Ravenpaw’s green eyes clouded with

terror, and he started to tremble uncontrol ably.

“Ravenpaw? ” Firepaw meowed in alarm.

But Ravenpaw didn’t even look up at him. With his head

held low, he slunk back to Graypaw and crouched next to

him, pressing his skinny black body next to Graypaw’s thick

fur as if he was suddenly cold.

Firepaw looked helplessly at his two friends as they

huddled beside Lionheart’s body. Not knowing what else to

do, he padded over and settled himself beside them, ready

to sit out the night.

As the moon passed overhead, other cats came to join

their vigil. Bluestar arrived last, once the camp was calm

and quiet. She said nothing, but sat a little way off, gazing

at her dead deputy with an expression of such unbearable

grief that Firepaw had to look away.

At dawn, a group of elders came to take Lionheart’s

body away to the burial place. Graypaw fol owed to help dig

the hole where the great warrior would rest.

Firepaw yawned and stretched. He felt chil ed to the

bone. Leaf-fal was nearly here now, and the woods were

clouded with mist, but above the leaves Firepaw saw a rosy

morning sky. He watched Graypaw disappear into the dew-

soaked undergrowth with the elders.

Ravenpaw jumped to his paws and hurried back to the

apprentices’ den. Firepaw fol owed him slowly. By the time

he arrived, the black cat was curled up with his nose tucked

under his tail, as if asleep.

Firepaw was too exhausted to speak. He circled around

on his mossy bed and then settled down for a long sleep.

“Wake up! ”

Firepaw heard Dustpaw’s voice cal ing through the den

entrance. He opened his eyes. Ravenpaw was already

awake, sitting bolt upright with his ears pricked. Graypaw

was stirring beside him. Firepaw was surprised to see the

familiar gray shape. He hadn’t heard him come back after

burying Lionheart.

“Bluestar’s cal ed another meeting, ” Dustpaw hissed at

them, and ducked out of the ferns.

The three apprentices crawled out of the warm den. The

sun was already past its height, and the air felt cooler than

before. Firepaw shivered, and his bel y growled. He

couldn’t remember the last time he had eaten, and he

wondered briefly if he would have a chance to hunt today.

Firepaw, Graypaw, and Ravenpaw hurried to join the

crowd gathered below the Highrock.

Tigerclaw was speaking from his position beside

Bluestar. “During the battle, our leader lost another life. Now

that she has only four of her nine lives left, I am going to

appoint a bodyguard to stay at her side constantly. No cat

wil be al owed to approach her unless the guards are

present. ” His amber eyes flicked to Ravenpaw and then

back to the rest of the crowd. “Darkstripe and Longtail, ” he

continued, turning his gaze on the warriors, “you wil act as

Bluestar’s guards. ”

Darkstripe and Longtail nodded importantly, and sat

tal er.

Bluestar now spoke. Her voice sounded gentle and

calming after her deputy’s commanding yowl. “Thank you,

Tigerclaw, for your loyalty. But the Clan must understand

that I am stil here for them. No cat should hesitate to

approach me, and I am happy to speak to anyone with or

without my bodyguards. ” Her eyes darted briefly in

Tigerclaw’s direction. “As the warrior code says, the safety

of the Clan is more important than the security of any single

member. ” She paused, and her sky-blue gaze rested briefly

on Firepaw. “And now, I wish to invite Yel owfang to join

ThunderClan. ”

Meows of surprise rose from some of the warriors.

Bluestar looked at Frostfur, who nodded her agreement.

The other queens looked on silently.

Bluestar continued. “Her actions last night proved that

she is brave and loyal. If she wishes it, we would welcome

her as a ful member of this Clan. ”

From her place at the edge of the crowd, Yel owfang

looked up at the Clan leader and murmured, “I am honored,

Bluestar, and I accept your offer. ”

“Good, ” meowed Bluestar, her voice firm as if the matter

was now closed.

Firepaw purred with delight and nudged Graypaw. He

was surprised to realize just how much Bluestar’s public

show of trust in Yel owfang meant to him.

Bluestar began to speak again. “Last night we

successful y defended ourselves against ShadowClan, but

they are stil a great threat. The repair work we began this

morning wil continue. Our boundaries wil be patrol ed

constantly. We must not assume that the war is over. ”

Tigerclaw stood up, his tail held high, and glared down

at the assembled cats. “ShadowClan attacked while we

were away from camp, ” he growled. “They chose their

moment wel. How did they know that the camp was so

poorly defended? Do they have eyes inside our camp? ”

Firepaw froze in horror as Tigerclaw fixed his cold stare

on Ravenpaw. Some of the cats fol owed their new deputy’s

gaze and stared in puzzlement at the black apprentice.

Ravenpaw looked at the ground and shifted his paws

nervously.

Tigerclaw went on. “We stil have a while before sunset.

We must concentrate on rebuilding our camp. Meanwhile, if

you suspect anything, or anyone, tel me. Be assured,

anything you say wil be in confidence. ” He nodded to

dismiss the Clan, then turned and began murmuring to

Bluestar.

The cats separated and began to move around the

camp, assessing damage and forming work groups.

“Ravenpaw! ” Firepaw cal ed, stil shocked by

Tigerclaw’s dark hint that his own apprentice had betrayed

the Clan. But Ravenpaw had already bounded away.

Firepaw could see him offering to help Halftail and

Whitestorm, before rushing off to col ect twigs so they could

patch the holes in the boundary wal. Ravenpaw clearly

didn’t want to talk.

“Let’s go and help him, ” suggested Graypaw. His voice

was flat and exhausted, and his eyes were dul.

“You go. I’l be there in a moment, ” Firepaw answered.

“First I want to check on Yel owfang, see if she’s okay after

her fight with Blackfoot. ”

He looked for Yel owfang in her nest by the fal en tree.

She was stretched out in the shadows, her eyes thoughtful.

“Firepaw, ” she purred when she saw him. “I’m glad you

have come. ”

“I wanted to check that you were al right, ” Firepaw

mewed.

“Old habits stay longer than old scents, eh? ” meowed

Yel owfang with a flash of her old spirit.

“I suppose so, ” Firepaw confessed. “How are you

feeling? ”

“This old leg injury is playing up again, but I’l be fine, ”

Yel owfang told him.

“How did you manage to fight Blackfoot off? ” Firepaw

asked, unable to keep the admiration out of his voice.

“Blackfoot’s strong, but he’s not a clever fighter. Fighting

you was more of a chal enge. ”

Firepaw looked for the flicker of humor in the old cat’s

eyes, but there was none.

She continued, “I’ve known him since he was a kit. He

hasn’t changed—a bul y, but no brains. ”

Firepaw sat down beside her. “I’m not surprised

Bluestar asked you to join the Clan, ” he purred. “You

certainly showed your loyalty last night. ”

Yel owfang twitched her tail. “Perhaps a truly loyal cat

would have fought at the side of the Clan that raised her. ”

“But then I’d be fighting for my Twolegs! ” Firepaw

pointed out.

Yel owfang shot him an admiring glance. “Wel said,

youngster. But then, you have always been a thinker. ”

Sorrow pierced Firepaw’s heart as he remembered

these were Lionheart’s words too. “Do you miss

ShadowClan? ” he asked Yel owfang.

Yel owfang blinked slowly. “I miss the old ShadowClan, ”

she meowed at last. “The way it used to be. ”

“Until Brokenstar became leader? ” Firepaw was

curious.

“Yes, ” Yel owfang admitted softly. “He changed the

Clan. ” She gave a wheezy laugh. “He always knew how to

give a good speech. He could make you believe a mouse

was a rabbit if he set his mind to it. Perhaps that is why I

was so blind to his faults. ” The old she-cat stared into the

distance, lost in memories.

“Bet you can’t guess who the new ShadowClan

medicine cat is? ” Firepaw mewed, suddenly remembering

what he had learned at the Gathering. It felt like moons ago

now.

His words seemed to shake Yel owfang back into the

present. “Not Runningnose? ” she meowed.

“Yep! ”

Yel owfang shook her head. “But he can’t even cure his

own cold! ”

“That’s what Graypaw said! ” They purred together for a

moment, amused. Firepaw got to his paws. “I’l leave you to

rest now. Cal me if you need anything else today. ”

Yel owfang lifted her head. “Before you go, Firepaw, I

hear you were in a rat fight. Did they draw blood? ”

“It’s okay, Spottedleaf has treated my wounds with

marigold. ”

“Sometimes marigold is not strong enough for rat bites.

Go and find a patch of wild garlic to rol in. I think there’s

some not far from the camp entrance. That wil draw out any

poisons the rats may have left. Although, ” she added dryly,

“your den mates might not thank me for my advice! ”

“Wel, I do. Thanks, Yel owfang! ” Firepaw purred.

“Go careful y, young one. ” Yel owfang held his gaze for a

moment, then let her chin rest on her front paws and closed

her eyes.

Firepaw slipped under the branches around

Yel owfang’s nest and headed for the gorse tunnel, in

search of the wild garlic. The sun was setting now, and he

could hear the queens settling their kits for the night.

“Where do you think you’re going? ” growled a voice from

the shadows. It was Darkstripe.

“Yel owfang told me to go out and—”

“You don’t take orders from that rogue! ” hissed the

warrior. “Go and help with the repairs. No cat is to leave the

camp tonight! ” He lashed his tail from side to side.

“Yes, Darkstripe, ” Firepaw mewed, dipping his head

submissively. He turned and muttered “Dirtstripe! ” under his

breath, then headed toward the camp boundary, where he

could see Graypaw and Ravenpaw busily patching a large

hole in the wal of greenery.

“How’s Yel owfang? ” asked Graypaw as Firepaw trotted

up.

“She’s fine. She said wild garlic would be good for my

rat bites. I was on my way to find some, but Darkstripe

ordered me to stay in camp, ” Firepaw told him.

“Wild garlic? ” mewed Graypaw. “I wouldn’t mind trying

that. My leg stil stings. ”

“I could sneak out and get some, ” Firepaw offered. He

had resented Darkstripe’s offhand treatment and

welcomed the chance to outwit him. “No one would notice if

I slipped out of this hole here. It’d only take a couple of

rabbit hops. ”

Ravenpaw frowned, but Graypaw nodded. “We’l cover

for you, ” he whispered.

Firepaw nuzzled him grateful y and jumped out through

the tear in the boundary wal.

Once outside the camp, he began to make his way to

the wild garlic patch, the sharp tang alerting him easily to its

location. The moon was rising in the violet sky as the sun

sank below the horizon. A cold breeze ruffled Firepaw’s fur.

Suddenly he caught a cat-scent carried toward him on the

wind. He sniffed cautiously. ShadowClan? No, just

Tigerclaw, and two other cats. He sniffed the air again.

Darkstripe and Longtail! What were they doing here?

Curious, Firepaw dropped into a stalking position. He

prowled through the undergrowth paw by paw, keeping

downwind so that he was not detected. The warriors were

standing in the shadow of a clump of ferns, their heads very

close together. Soon Firepaw was near enough to hear

them speak.

“StarClan knows, my apprentice has shown little

promise from the start, but I never expected him to turn

traitor! ” growled Tigerclaw.

Firepaw’s eyes widened and his fur prickled with shock.

It sounded like Tigerclaw intended to do more than just hint

that Ravenpaw had betrayed the Clan!

“How long did you say Ravenpaw was missing on the

journey to Mothermouth? ” asked Darkstripe.

“Long enough to have traveled to ShadowClan’s camp

and back, ” came the deputy’s menacing answer.

The fur on Firepaw’s tail bristled angrily. That’s

impossible! he thought. He was with us the whole time!

Longtail’s voice sounded now, high-pitched with

excitement: “He must have told them that ThunderClan’s

leader and the strongest warrior had left the camp. Why

else would they attack when they did? ”

“We are the last Clan to stand against ShadowClan. We

must remain strong, ” purred Tigerclaw. His tone had

become velvety soft now. He waited in silence for a

response.

It was Darkstripe who answered, eagerly, as if he were

stil Tigerclaw’s apprentice, giving the correct answer to a

question on hunting techniques. His words made Firepaw

breathless with fear. “And the Clan would be better off

without a traitor like Ravenpaw. ”

“I have to say I agree with you, Darkstripe, ” murmured

Tigerclaw, his voice heavy with emotion. “Even though he’s

my own apprentice…” He trailed off as if he were too upset

to say any more.

Firepaw had heard enough. Forgetting al about the wild

garlic, he turned and crept as silently and as quickly as he

could back toward the camp.

He decided not to tel Ravenpaw what he had heard. He

would be terrified. Firepaw’s mind raced. What could he

do? Tigerclaw was the Clan deputy, a great warrior, and

popular with al of the other cats. No one was going to listen

to any accusations made by an apprentice. But Ravenpaw

was in terrible danger. Firepaw shook himself, trying to

clear his head. There was only one thing to do—he must tel

what he had heard to Bluestar, and somehow convince her

that he was tel ing the truth!