CHAPTER 20

By the time Firepaw returned, the camp was starting to

look a little better. Parties of cats had clearly been patching

and repairing continuously throughout the day. Frostfur and

Goldenflower were stil busy fortifying the nursery wal s, but

the outer wal looked solid and secure once more.

Firepaw trotted across the clearing to see if there was

any fresh-kil around. He passed Sandpaw and Dustpaw,

who were preparing to leave in the next patrol.

“Sorry, ” mewed Sandpaw, as Firepaw sniffed hopeful y

around the eating area. “We ate the last two mice. ”

Firepaw shrugged. He would catch something for

himself later. He headed back to the apprentices’ den,

where Graypaw was sitting with his back resting against

the tree stump, licking a forepaw.

“Where’s Ravenpaw? ” Firepaw asked as he sat down.

“Not back from his task yet, ” replied Graypaw. “Look at

that! ” He held out his paw for Firepaw to inspect. The pad

was torn and bleeding. “Tigerclaw sent me fishing and I

stepped on a sharp stone in the stream. ”

“That looks pretty deep. You should get Spottedleaf to

take a look at it, ” Firepaw advised. “Where did Tigerclaw

send Ravenpaw, by the way? ”

“Dunno, I was up to my bel y in cold water, ” muttered

Graypaw. He stood up and limped away toward

Spottedleaf’s den.

Firepaw settled down, his eyes fixed on the entrance to

the camp, and waited for Ravenpaw. After overhearing the

warriors’ conversation last night, he couldn’t shake the

feeling that something dreadful was going to happen to his

friend. His heart lurched as he saw Tigerclaw enter the

camp alone.

He waited longer. The moon was high in the sky. Surely

Ravenpaw should be back by now? Firepaw found himself

wishing he’d spoken to Bluestar when he’d had the chance.

He could see Darkstripe and Longtail guarding her den

now, and he certainly didn’t want them to overhear his

concerns.

Tigerclaw had brought back fresh-kil, which he was

sharing with Whitestorm outside the warriors’ den. Firepaw

realized he was very hungry. Perhaps he should go and

hunt—he might come across Ravenpaw outside the camp.

As he wondered what to do, Firepaw saw Ravenpaw

trotting through the entrance of the camp. A thril of relief

raced through him, and not just because Ravenpaw was

holding fresh-kil between his teeth.

The apprentice came straight over to Firepaw and

dropped the mouthful of food on the ground. “Enough for al

three of us! ” he mewed proudly. “And it should taste extra

good—it’s from ShadowClan territory. ”

Firepaw gasped. “You hunted in ShadowClan territory? ”

“That was my task, ” Ravenpaw explained.

“Tigerclaw sent you into enemy territory to hunt! ” Firepaw

could hardly believe it. “We must tel Bluestar. That was too

dangerous! ”

At the mention of Bluestar’s name, Ravenpaw shook his

head. His eyes looked hunted and shadowed with fear.

“Look, just keep quiet, okay? ” he hissed. “I survived. I even

caught some prey. That’s al there is to it. ”

“You survived this time! ” Firepaw spat.

“Shhh! Tigerclaw’s looking. Just eat your share and

keep quiet! ” snapped Ravenpaw. Firepaw shrugged and

took a piece of the fresh-kil. Ravenpaw ate quickly,

avoiding Firepaw’s eye. “Shal we save some for

Graypaw? ” he asked after a while.

“He went to see Spottedleaf, ” Firepaw mumbled through

a mouthful. “He cut his paw. I don’t know when he’l be

back. ”

“Wel, save him whatever you want, ” replied Ravenpaw,

suddenly sounding worn out. “I’m tired; I need to sleep. ” He

stood up and pushed his way into the den.

Firepaw stayed outside, watching the rest of the camp

prepare for the night. He was going to have to tel

Ravenpaw what he’d overheard in the forest last night. He

needed to know just how much danger he was in.

Tigerclaw was lying beside Whitestorm, sharing

tongues, but with one eye fixed on the apprentices’ den.

Firepaw yawned to show Tigerclaw how exhausted he was.

Then he got to his paws and fol owed Ravenpaw inside.

Ravenpaw was asleep, but Firepaw could tel from his

twitching paws and whiskers that he was dreaming. He

knew it wasn’t a good dream by the tiny mewls and

squeaks that Ravenpaw was making. Suddenly the black

cat leaped to his paws, his eyes stretched wide in terror.

His fur was standing on end, and his back was arched.

“Ravenpaw! ” Firepaw meowed in alarm. “Calm down.

You’re in our den. There’s only me here! ”

Ravenpaw looked around wildly.

“It’s just me, ” Firepaw repeated.

Ravenpaw blinked and seemed to recognize his friend.

He col apsed onto his bed.

“Ravenpaw, ” mewed Firepaw seriously. “There’s

something you need to know. Something I heard last night

when I was out looking for the wild garlic. ” Ravenpaw

looked away, stil trembling from his dream, but Firepaw

persisted. “Ravenpaw, I heard Tigerclaw tel ing Darkstripe

and Longtail that you betrayed ThunderClan. He told them

you slipped away during the trip to Mothermouth and told

ShadowClan that the camp was unguarded. ”

Ravenpaw spun round to face Firepaw. “But I didn’t! ” he

exclaimed, horrified.

“Of course you didn’t, ” Firepaw agreed. “But Darkstripe

and Longtail believe you did, and Tigerclaw persuaded

them that they should get rid of you. ”

Ravenpaw was speechless, his breath coming in gasps.

“Why would Tigerclaw want to get rid of you,

Ravenpaw? ” Firepaw asked gently. “He’s one of the Clan’s

strongest warriors. What threat are you to him? ” Firepaw

suspected he already knew the answer, but he wanted to

hear the truth from Ravenpaw’s own mouth. He waited while

Ravenpaw fumbled for words.

At last the black apprentice crawled closer to Firepaw

and whispered hoarsely into his ear, “Because the

RiverClan deputy didn’t kil Redtail; Tigerclaw did. ”

Firepaw nodded silently, and Ravenpaw continued, his

whisper cracking with tension. “Redtail kil ed the RiverClan

deputy—”

“So Tigerclaw didn’t kil Oakheart. ” Firepaw couldn’t help

interrupting.

Ravenpaw shook his head. “No, he didn’t! After Redtail

had kil ed Oakheart, Tigerclaw ordered me back to the

camp. I wanted to stay, but he yowled at me to go, so I ran

into the trees. I should have carried on running, but I couldn’t

leave while they were stil fighting. I turned and crept back to

see if Tigerclaw needed help. By the time I got near, al the

RiverClan warriors had fled, leaving just Redtail and

Tigerclaw. Redtail was watching the last warrior running

away and Tigerclaw”—Ravenpaw paused, then gulped

—“Tigerclaw j-jumped on him. He sank his teeth into the

back of his neck and Redtail fel to the ground, dead. That’s

when I ran. I don’t know if Tigerclaw saw me or not. I just

kept running til I got back to the camp. ”

“Why didn’t you tel Bluestar? ” Firepaw pressed gently.

“Would she have believed me? ” Ravenpaw’s eyes rol ed

wildly. “Do you believe me? ”

“Of course I do, ” Firepaw mewed. He licked Ravenpaw

between the ears in an effort to calm and comfort his friend.

He was going to have to find another opportunity to tel

Bluestar about Tigerclaw’s treachery. “Don’t worry; I’l sort it

out, ” he promised. “Meanwhile, make sure you stick close

to me or Graypaw. ”

“Does Graypaw know? About them wanting to get rid of

me? ”

“Not yet. But I’l have to tel him. ”

Ravenpaw settled silently onto his bel y and stared

ahead.

“It’s okay, Ravenpaw, ” Firepaw purred, touching the

skinny black body with his nose. “I’l help you get out of this. ”

Graypaw padded into the den at dawn. Sandpaw and

Dustpaw had returned from their patrol a while ago and

were asleep in their nests.

“Hi! ” mewed Graypaw, sounding more cheerful than he

had for days.

Firepaw woke at once. “You sound better, ” he purred.

Graypaw licked Firepaw’s ear. “Spottedleaf put some

gunk on my cut and made me lie stil for hours. I must’ve

fal en asleep. By the way, I hope that chaffinch out there

was for me; I was starving! ”

“It was. Ravenpaw caught it yesterday. Tigerclaw sent

him into—”

“Shut up, you two, ” growled Sandpaw. “Some of us are

trying to sleep. ”

Graypaw rol ed his eyes. “Come on, Firepaw, ” he

mewed. “Brindleface has had her kits; let’s go and visit

them. ”

Firepaw purred with pleasure. At last, something for

ThunderClan to celebrate. He looked down at Ravenpaw,

who was stil sleeping, and padded out of the den. With

Graypaw, he trotted across the clearing toward the nursery.

The rising sun made his pelt glow with warmth, and he

stretched appreciatively, reveling in the suppleness of his

spine and the strength in his legs.

“Stop showing off! ” Graypaw cal ed over his shoulder.

Firepaw stopped stretching and bounded after his friend.

Whitestorm was sitting outside the nursery, guarding the

entrance. “Have you two come to see the new kits? ” he

meowed as Firepaw and Graypaw approached.

Firepaw nodded.

“One at a time only, and you’l have to wait; Bluestar’s

with her now, ” Whitestorm told them.

“Wel, you can go first, ” Firepaw offered. “I’l go and see

Yel owfang while I’m waiting. ” He dipped his head

respectful y to Whitestorm and headed off toward

Yel owfang’s nest.

The old cat was washing behind her ears, her eyes half-

closed with concentration.

“Don’t tel me you’re expecting rain! ” Firepaw teased.

Yel owfang looked up. “You’ve been listening to too

many elders’ tales, ” she meowed. “What would be the point

of a cat washing its ears if they’re only going to get rained

on anyway? ”

Firepaw’s whiskers twitched with amusement. “Are you

going to see Brindleface’s new litter? ” he asked.

Yel owfang stiffened and she shook her head. “I don’t

think I’d be very welcome, ” she growled.

“But they know you saved—” Firepaw began.

“A she-cat is very protective of her newborns. Especial y

when it’s her first litter. I think I’l stay away, ” Yel owfang

replied in a tone that invited no argument.

“As you wish. But I’m going to see them. It must be a

good sign, having new kits in the camp. ”

Yel owfang shrugged. “Sometimes, ” she muttered darkly.

Firepaw turned and trotted back to the nursery. Clouds

had covered the sun, making the air turn fresher. A fierce

breeze tugged at his fur and rustled the leaves around the

clearing.

Bluestar was sitting outside the nursery. Behind her,

Graypaw’s tail was just disappearing into the narrow

entrance. “Firepaw, ” she greeted him. “Have you come to

see ThunderClan’s newest warriors? ” The ThunderClan

leader sounded tired and sad.

Firepaw was surprised. Surely the kits were good news

for ThunderClan?

“Yes, I have, ” he replied.

“Wel, when you’ve finished, come and see me in my

den. ”

“Yes, Bluestar, ” Firepaw mewed as she walked slowly

away. He felt his fur prickle. Here was another chance to

speak to Bluestar alone. Perhaps StarClan was on his

side, after al.

Graypaw crawled out of the nursery entrance. “They’re

real y cute, ” he mewed. “But I’m starving now. I’m off to find

some fresh-kil. I’l save some for you if I find any! ” He

blinked affectionately at Firepaw and bounded away.

Firepaw purred a good-bye and looked up at

Whitestorm, who nodded his permission for him to enter

the nursery. Firepaw squeezed through the tiny entrance.

Four tiny kits huddled warmly in Brindleface’s deeply

lined nest. Their fur was pale gray with darker flecks, just

like their mother, except for one tiny dark gray tom. They

mewled and squirmed beside Brindleface’s bel y, their

eyes shut tight.

“How are you feeling? ” Firepaw whispered to her.

“A little tired, ” answered Brindleface. She looked down

proudly at her litter. “But the kits are al strong and healthy. ”

“ThunderClan is lucky to have them, ” Firepaw purred. “I

was just talking about them to Yel owfang. ”

Brindleface didn’t answer, and Firepaw couldn’t miss

the look of worry that flashed in her eyes as she nudged a

straying kit closer to her.

Firepaw felt a tremor of anxiety in his bel y. Bluestar may

have accepted Yel owfang into ThunderClan, but it looked

like the old cat was stil not trusted by al of the Clan. He

touched his nose affectionately to Brindleface’s flank, then

turned and made his way out into the clearing.

The Clan leader was waiting for Firepaw at the entrance

to her den. Longtail sat at her side. The pale tabby warrior

stared hard at Firepaw as he approached. Firepaw

ignored his gaze and looked expectantly at Bluestar.

“Come inside, ” she meowed, turning to lead the way.

Firepaw trotted after her. Longtail immediately stood up as

if to fol ow them.

Bluestar looked back at him over her shoulder. “I think I’l

be safe enough with young Firepaw, ” she meowed.

Longtail looked uncertain for a moment, then sat down

again outside the entrance.

Firepaw had never been inside Bluestar’s den. He

padded after her through the lichen that draped its

entrance. “Brindleface’s kits are lovely, ” he purred.

Bluestar looked serious. “Lovely they may be, but they

mean more mouths to feed, and the season of leaf-bare wil

soon be here. ” Then she glanced at Firepaw, who was

unable to hide his surprise at her melancholy tone. “Oh,

don’t listen to me, ” meowed Bluestar, shaking her head

impatiently. “The first cold wind always worries me. Come;

make yourself comfortable. ” She tipped her head toward

the dry, sandy floor.

Firepaw dropped onto his bel y and stretched his paws

out in front of him.

Bluestar circled slowly on her mossy nest. “I’m stil

aching from our training session yesterday, ” she admitted

when she had final y settled herself and curled her tail

around her paws. “You fought wel, young one. ”

For once, Firepaw didn’t stop to bask in her praise. His

heart was thumping. This was the perfect moment to tel his

leader his fears about Tigerclaw. He lifted his chin, ready to

speak.

But it was Bluestar who spoke first, staring past him at

the far wal of her den. “I can stil smel the stale stench of

ShadowClan in the camp, ” she murmured. “I hoped never to

see the day when our enemy broke into the heart of

ThunderClan. ” Firepaw nodded in silent agreement,

sensing Bluestar was going to say more.

“And so many deaths. ” She sighed. “First Redtail, then

Lionheart. I thank StarClan at least the warriors we have left

are strong and loyal like them. At least with Tigerclaw as

deputy, ThunderClan may stil be able to defend itself. ”

Firepaw’s heart plummeted and an icy chil cut deep into

him as Bluestar went on. “There was a time, when

Tigerclaw was a young warrior, that I feared for the strength

of his passion. Such energy can need careful channeling.

But now I am proud to see how much respect the Clan has

for him. I know he is ambitious, but his ambition makes him

one of the bravest cats I have ever had the honor to fight

alongside. ”

Firepaw knew at once that he could not tel Bluestar his

suspicions about Tigerclaw. Not when Bluestar looked to

her deputy to protect the whole Clan. He would have to

save Ravenpaw himself. He took a deep breath and

blinked slowly, so that when Bluestar turned and looked

directly into his eyes, no trace of his shock and

disappointment remained.

Her next words were quiet and ful of concern. “You know

Brokenstar wil return. He made it clear at the Gathering

that he wants hunting rights in al the territories. ”

“We fought him off once. We can do it again, ” Firepaw

insisted.

“That’s true, ” Bluestar acknowledged with a wry nod.

“StarClan wil honor your courage, young Firepaw. ” She

paused and licked a healing wound on her side. “I think you

ought to know that, in the battle with the rats, it was not my

fifth life that I lost, but my seventh. ”

Firepaw sat bolt upright, shocked.

Bluestar went on. “I have let the Clan believe it was my

fifth because I don’t want them to fear for my safety. But two

more lives, and I wil have to leave you to join StarClan. ”

Firepaw’s mind was racing. Why was she tel ing him

this? “Thank you for sharing this with me, Bluestar, ” he

purred respectful y.

Bluestar nodded. “I am tired now, ” she rasped. “Off you

go. And Firepaw, I don’t expect you to repeat this

conversation to anyone. ”

“Of course, Bluestar, ” Firepaw replied as he nosed his

way out through the curtain of lichen.

Longtail was stil sitting by the entrance. Firepaw

stepped past him and made his way toward his den. He

didn’t know which part of his conversation with Bluestar had

been more bewildering.

He was stopped in his tracks by a yowl of horror coming

from the nursery. Frostfur came sprinting into the clearing,

her tail bristling and her eyes wide with alarm. “My kits!

Someone has taken my kits! ”

Tigerclaw bounded over to her. He cal ed to the Clan,

“Quick, search the camp! Whitestorm, stay where you are.

Warriors, patrol the camp boundary. Apprentices, search

every den! ”

Firepaw rushed to the nearest den, the warriors’, and

pushed his way inside. It was empty. He scrabbled through

the bedding with his paws but there was neither sight nor

scent of Frostfur’s kits.

He charged outside and headed for his own den.

Ravenpaw and Graypaw were already inside, pushing

aside their nests, sniffing every corner. Dustpaw and

Sandpaw were searching the elders’ den. Firepaw left

them to it and charged from one clump of grass to another,

pushing his muzzle into them, ignoring the nettles that stung

his nose. There was no sign of the kits anywhere. He

looked around the camp boundary. Warriors paced

backward and forward, urgently sniffing the air.

Suddenly Firepaw spotted Yel owfang in the distance.

She was pushing her way through an unguarded part of fern

wal. She must have found a scent, he thought, and raced

toward her as her tail disappeared into the greenery. By the

time he arrived at the fern wal, she had gone. He sniffed

the air. No kit-scent, just the bitter smel of Yel owfang’s

fear. What was she afraid of? Firepaw wondered.

Tigerclaw’s yowl sounded from the bushes behind the

nursery. Al the cats raced over to him, headed by Frostfur.

They crowded as closely as they could, jostling to see

through the dense undergrowth. Firepaw nosed his way

forward and saw Tigerclaw standing over a motionless

bundle of dappled fur.

Spottedleaf!

Firepaw stared in disbelief at her lifeless body. Fury

rose in him like a dark cloud, and he felt the blood roaring

in his ears. Who had done this?

Bluestar stepped through the crowd and leaned over the

medicine cat. “She has been kil ed by a warrior blow, ” she

meowed softly.

Firepaw craned his neck and saw a single wound on the

back of Spottedleaf’s neck. His head swam and suddenly

he was unable to see clearly.

Through his grief, Firepaw heard a murmur at the back

of the crowd that swel ed into a single piercing yowl.

“Yel owfang is gone! ”