CHAPTER 13

Firepaw reached the edge of the ravine and looked down

at the camp. He was panting and his paws were slippery

with dew. He sniffed the air. He was alone. There was stil

time to speak to Yel owfang before the others returned from

the Gathering. Silently, he jumped down the rocky slope

and slipped through the gorse tunnel unnoticed.

The camp was stil and quiet, apart from the muted

snuffles of sleeping cats. Firepaw quickly crept around the

edge of the clearing to Yel owfang’s nest. The old medicine

cat was curled on top of her mossy bedding.

“Yel owfang, ” he hissed urgently. “Yel owfang! Wake up;

it’s important! ”

Two orange eyes opened and glinted in the moonlight. “I

wasn’t sleeping, ” meowed Yel owfang quietly. She sounded

calm and alert. “You came straight from the Gathering to

me? That must mean you’ve heard. ” She blinked slowly and

looked away. “So Brokenstar kept his promise. ”

“What promise? ” Firepaw felt very confused. Yel owfang

seemed to know more than he did about what was going

on.

“ShadowClan’s noble leader promised to drive me from

every Clan territory, ” Yel owfang replied dryly. “What did he

say about me? ”

“He warned us that our kits were in danger as long as

we sheltered the ShadowClan rogue. He didn’t say your

name, but ThunderClan guessed who he was talking about.

You must leave before the others get back. You are in

danger! ”

“You mean they believed Brokenstar? ” Yel owfang

flattened her ears and swished her tail angrily.

“Yes! ” Firepaw meowed urgently. “Darkstripe says

you’re dangerous. The other cats are scared of what you

might do. Tigerclaw is planning to come back and…I don’t

know…. I think you should go before they get here! ”

In the distance Firepaw could hear the yowls of angry

cats. Yel owfang struggled stiffly to her paws. Firepaw gave

her a nudge to help her up, his mind stil spinning with

questions. “What did Brokenstar mean when he warned us

to keep a close eye on our kits? ” he couldn’t stop himself

from asking. “Would you real y do something like that? ”

“Would I what? ”

“Would you harm our kits? ”

Yel owfang flared her nostrils and looked steadily at him.

“Do you think so? ”

Firepaw met her gaze without flinching. “No. I don’t

believe you would ever harm a kit. But why would

Brokenstar say such a thing? ”

The noise of the cats was coming nearer, and with it, the

scents of aggression and anger. Yel owfang looked wildly

from side to side.

“Go! ” Firepaw urged. Her safety was more important

than his curiosity.

But Yel owfang remained where she was and stared at

him. A calm look suddenly came into her wide eyes.

“Firepaw, you believe I’m innocent, and I’m grateful for that.

If you believe me, then others might. And I know Bluestar

wil give me a fair hearing. I can’t run forever. I’m too old. I

shal stay here and face whatever your Clan decides for

me. ” She sighed and sank down onto her bony haunches.

“But what about Tigerclaw? What if he—”

“He is headstrong, and he knows the power he has over

the other Clan cats—they are in awe of him. But even he

wil obey Bluestar. ”

Rustling in the undergrowth beyond the camp boundary

told Firepaw that the cats were almost at the entrance.

“Go away, Firepaw, ” hissed Yel owfang, baring her

blackened teeth at him. “Don’t make trouble for yourself by

being seen with me now. There is nothing you can do for

me. Have faith in your leader, and let her decide what

happens to me. ”

Firepaw realized Yel owfang had made up her mind. He

touched his nose to her patchy fur, then crept silently away

into the shadows to watch.

Through the gorse came the cats—Bluestar first,

accompanied by Lionheart. Frostfur and Wil owpelt were

right behind them. Frostfur raced away from the troop

immediately and ran toward the nursery, the fur on her tail

bristling in alarm. Tigerclaw and Darkstripe strode into the

clearing, shoulder to shoulder, looking grim. The others

fol owed behind, with Ravenpaw and Graypaw at the rear.

As soon as he saw his friends, Firepaw trotted out to join

them.

“You went to warn Yel owfang, didn’t you? ” whispered

Graypaw when Firepaw reached his side.

“Yes, I did, ” Firepaw admitted. “But she won’t leave. She

trusts Bluestar to treat her fairly. Did anyone miss me? ”

“Only us, ” replied Ravenpaw.

Around the camp, the cats who had stayed behind

began to wake up. They must have scented the aggression

and heard the tension in the voices of the returning cats, for

they al came running into the clearing, their tails held high.

“What has happened? ” cal ed a tabby warrior named

Runningwind.

“Brokenstar has demanded hunting rights for

ShadowClan in our territory! ” replied Longtail loudly enough

for al the cats to hear.

“And he warned us about a rogue cat who wil harm our

kits! ” added Wil owpelt. “It must be Yel owfang! ”

Meows of anger and distress rose from the crowd.

“Silence! ” ordered Bluestar, leaping onto the Highrock.

Instinctively, the cats settled in front of her.

A loud screech made every cat turn its head toward the

fal en tree where the elders slept. Tigerclaw and Darkstripe

were dragging Yel owfang roughly from her nest. She

shrieked furiously as they hauled her into the clearing and

dumped her in front of the Highrock. Firepaw felt every

muscle in his body tense. Without thinking, he dropped into

a low crouch, ready to spring at Yel owfang’s persecutors.

“Wait, Firepaw, ” growled Graypaw in his ear. “Let

Bluestar deal with this. ”

“What is going on? ” demanded Bluestar, jumping down

from the Highrock and glaring at her warriors. “I gave no

order to attack our prisoner. ”

Tigerclaw and Darkstripe instantly let go of Yel owfang,

who crouched in the dust, hissing and spitting.

Frostfur appeared from the nursery and pushed her way

through to the front of the Clan. “We got back in time, ” she

meowed with a gasp. “The kits are safe! ”

“Of course they are! ” snapped Bluestar.

Frostfur seemed taken aback. “But…you are going to

throw Yel owfang out, aren’t you? ” she meowed, her blue

eyes wide.

“Throw her out? ” spat Darkstripe, unleashing his claws.

“We should kil her now! ”

Bluestar fixed her piercing blue eyes on Darkstripe’s

angry face. “And what has she done? ” she asked with icy

calm.

Firepaw held his breath.

“You were at the Gathering! Brokenstar said she—”

Darkstripe began.

“Brokenstar said only that there is a rogue somewhere in

the woods, ” meowed Bluestar, her voice menacingly quiet.

“He did not mention Yel owfang by name. The kits are safe.

For as long as she is in my Clan, Yel owfang wil not be

harmed in any way. ”

Bluestar’s words were met with silence, and Firepaw

heaved a sigh of relief.

Yel owfang looked up at Bluestar and narrowed her eyes

respectful y. “I wil leave now, if you wish it, Bluestar. ”

“There is no need, ” Bluestar replied. “You have done

nothing wrong. You wil be safe here. ” The ThunderClan

leader lifted her gaze to the crowd of cats that surrounded

Yel owfang and meowed, “It is time we discussed the real

threat to our Clan: Brokenstar. We have already begun to

prepare for an attack by ShadowClan, ” Bluestar began.

“We’l carry on with those preparations, and patrol our

borders more frequently. WindClan has gone. RiverClan

has given hunting rights to ShadowClan warriors.

ThunderClan stands alone against Brokenstar. ”

A murmur of defiance rippled through the cats, and

Firepaw felt his fur prickle with anticipation.

“Then we’re not going to agree to Brokenstar’s

demands? ” meowed Tigerclaw.

“Clans have never shared hunting rights before, ”

Bluestar answered. “They have always managed to support

themselves in their own territories. There is no reason why

this should change. ” Tigerclaw nodded approvingly.

“But can we defend ourselves against a ShadowClan

attack? ” asked Smal ear’s tremulous voice. “WindClan

didn’t manage it! RiverClan won’t even try! ”

Bluestar met his old eyes with her steady gaze. “We

must try. We wil not give up our territory without a fight. ”

Al around the clearing, Firepaw saw the cats nodding in

agreement.

“I shal travel to the Moonstone tomorrow, ” Bluestar

announced. “The warriors of StarClan wil give me the

strength I need to lead ThunderClan through this dark time.

You must al get some rest. We have a lot to do when

daylight comes. I wish to talk with Lionheart now. ” Without

another word, she turned and strode toward her den.

Firepaw noticed the look of wonder that had entered the

eyes of some of the cats when Bluestar had mentioned the

Moonstone. Now the Clan cats hurriedly gathered in

groups, meowing in hushed voices ful of excitement.

“What’s the Moonstone? ” Firepaw asked Graypaw.

“It’s a rock deep underground that shines in the dark, ”

whispered Graypaw. His voice was hoarse with awe. “Al

Clan leaders have to spend one night at the Moonstone

when they are first chosen. There, the spirits of StarClan

share with them. ”

“Share what with them? ”

Graypaw frowned. “I don’t know, ” he admitted. “I know

only that the new leaders have to sleep near the stone, and

as they sleep, they have special dreams. After that, they

have the gift of nine lives, and take the name ‘star. ’”

Firepaw watched Yel owfang limp back to her shadowy

nest. It looked like Tigerclaw’s rough treatment had

aggravated her old injury. As he trotted back to the

apprentices’ den, Firepaw decided to ask Spottedleaf for

more poppy seeds in the morning.

“So what happened? ” mewed Dustpaw eagerly,

popping his head out of the den. He seemed to have

forgotten how much he resented the new apprentice in his

eagerness to hear about the Gathering.

“It’s like Longtail said. Brokenstar demanded hunting

rights…. ” Graypaw began.

Sandpaw and Dustpaw sat and listened, but Firepaw

was watching the camp. He could see the silhouettes of

Bluestar and Lionheart sitting close together outside her

den, talking urgently.

Then he noticed the smal shape of Ravenpaw at the

entrance to the warriors’ den. Tigerclaw stood beside him.

Firepaw saw Ravenpaw’s ears flatten as the young cat

flinched away from Tigerclaw’s fierce words. The dark

warrior loomed over him, twice his size, his eyes and teeth

flashing in the moonlight. What was he saying to

Ravenpaw? Firepaw was just about to creep nearer and

listen when Ravenpaw backed away, turned, and ran

across the clearing.

Firepaw greeted Ravenpaw as he reached the

apprentice’s den, but Ravenpaw hardly seemed to notice

him. Instead, he pushed his way inside the den without a

word.

Firepaw got up to fol ow him when he saw Lionheart

approaching.

“Wel, ” meowed the ThunderClan deputy, striding up to

the apprentices. “It seems that Firepaw, Graypaw, and

Ravenpaw are about to reach another important stage in

their training. ”

“What’s that? ” mewed Graypaw, looking excited.

“Bluestar wishes you three to accompany her on her

journey to the Moonstone! ” Lionheart didn’t miss the look of

disappointment on the faces of Dustpaw and Sandpaw,

because he added, “Don’t worry, you two; you’l make the

journey soon enough. For now, ThunderClan needs your

strength and skil at the camp. I wil remain here also. ”

Firepaw looked past Lionheart to his leader. She was

moving from one group of warriors to another, meowing

instructions to each. Why had she chosen him for this

journey? he wondered.

“She wants you to rest now, ” Lionheart continued. “But

first go to Spottedleaf and col ect the herbs you wil need on

this expedition. It’s a long way. You wil need something to

give you strength and quel your appetite. There wil be little

time for catching prey. ”

Graypaw nodded, and Firepaw dragged his gaze away

from Bluestar and nodded too.

“Where is Ravenpaw? ” asked Lionheart.

“He’s in his nest already, ” replied Firepaw.

“Good. Leave him to sleep. You can fetch herbs for him, ”

meowed Lionheart. “Rest wel. You leave at dawn. ” He

flicked his tail and walked back to Bluestar’s den.

“Wel, then, ” mewed Sandpaw. “You’d better go and see

Spottedleaf. ”

Firepaw listened for sourness in her voice, but there was

none. There was no time for jealousy now. Al the cats in the

Clan seemed to be united against the threat from

ShadowClan.

Firepaw and Graypaw walked quickly toward

Spottedleaf’s den. The fern tunnel was dark. Not even the

ful moon penetrated its thick covering.

Spottedleaf seemed to be expecting them as they

emerged into her moonlit clearing. “You have come for

some traveling herbs, ” she meowed.

“Yes, please, ” Firepaw answered. “And I think

Yel owfang needs more poppy seeds. She seemed to be

feeling her wounds. ”

“I wil take her some after you have gone. And your

traveling herbs are ready. ”

Spottedleaf indicated a pile of careful y made leaf

wraps. “Enough for the three of you. The dark green herb

wil stop your hunger pangs during the journey. The other

wil give you strength. Eat them both just before you leave.

They’re not as good as fresh prey, but the taste won’t last

long. ”

“Thanks, Spottedleaf, ” mewed Firepaw. He leaned down

and picked up one of the parcels. As he bent his head,

Spottedleaf stretched over and gently rubbed his cheek

with her nose. Firepaw breathed in her sweet, warm scent

and purred his thanks.

Graypaw picked up the other two and the friends turned

and headed back through the tunnel.

“Good luck! ” Spottedleaf cal ed after them. “Travel

safely. ”

They arrived at the entrance to their den and dropped

the bundles.

“Wel, I just hope these herbs don’t taste too revolting! ”

muttered Graypaw.

“It must be a long way to the Moonstone. We’ve never

been given herbs before. Do you know where it is? ”

Firepaw asked.

“Beyond Clan territory, at a place cal ed HighStones. It

lies deep underground, in a cave we cal Mothermouth. ”

“Have you ever been there before? ” Firepaw was

impressed that Graypaw knew so much about this

mysterious place.

“No, but al apprentices have to make the journey there

before they become warriors. ”

The thought of becoming a warrior made Firepaw’s

eyes gleam with excitement, and he couldn’t help standing

a little tal er.

“Don’t get your hopes up. We stil have to finish our

training! ” Graypaw warned, as if reading his thoughts.

Firepaw looked up through the canopy of leaves at the

stars glittering in the black sky above. Moonhigh had

passed. “We should get some sleep, ” he mewed. But he

couldn’t imagine being able to sleep with the thought of

tomorrow’s adventure spinning through his mind. Attending

the Gathering, a journey to the Moonstone—how far away

his kittypet life seemed now!