Dark River

Cinderpaw was only a few branches from her denmate now. Mousepaw was watching her, his fur slowly flattening.

“It’s okay, Mousepaw,” Cinderpaw called up to him.

“There’s nothing to be frightened of.”

Hollypaw held her breath as Cinderpaw began to guide Mousepaw down, one branch at a time.

“That’s it,” Cinderpaw mewed. “The next branch is really close. Just make sure you grip with your claws and you’ll be fine.”

The two cats were easier to see now, getting closer and closer to safety with every uneasy jump.

They’re going to make it!

Suddenly, a bird shrieked and flapped out of the tree just below them. Mousepaw squealed in shock and slipped from the branch.

Quick as a flash, Cinderpaw lunged forward and reached for him. She caught him and hauled him back onto the branch, her hind legs scrabbling for a hold. Mousepaw grabbed at the branch and clung to the bark, his tail lashing in panic.

Relief flooded Hollypaw.

Then she saw Cinderpaw wobble. The gray tabby’s hind paws were slipping over the back of the branch. Her forepaws churned desperately at the air. With a yelp she slid over the edge and fell. Hollypaw stared in horror as Cinderpaw dropped through the leaves like a stone and landed with a sickening thud.

“No!” Brackenfur’s mew cracked as he darted forward.

“Cinderpaw? Cinderpaw!” He crouched over the limp body lying awkwardly on the ground.

“Get Leafpool!” Spiderleg hissed in Hollypaw’s ear.

Hollypaw glanced once more at her friend’s twisted body before hurtling away through the trees. Cinderpaw can’t be dead!

She mustn’t be dead!

Chapter 7

“Ow!” Birchfall snatched his paw away from Jaypaw.

Jaypaw sighed. “If I don’t get the thorn out it’s going to hurt a lot more!”

Tentatively, Birchfall held out his paw again. Jaypaw leaned down and grasped the fat end of the thorn between his teeth.

“It’s not that big,” he muttered out of the side of his mouth.

“That’s because most of it is buried in my paw!” Birchfall complained. “It’s amazing I made it back to camp at all.”

Jaypaw braced himself and gave a fierce tug.

“Ow!” Birchfall leaped away, then hopped noisily around the medicine den.

Jaypaw dropped the thorn, spitting to get rid of the taste of blood.

“I told you it was huge!” Birchfall meowed triumphantly.

Jaypaw touched it with his pad. The curved barb felt like a claw. “Not exactly deadly, though,” he mewed.

Birchfall lapped at his wound. “You’re not very sympathetic for a medicine cat.”

“I’m here to heal you. If you want sympathy, go to the nursery.” Jaypaw padded to the back of the den. Warriors! They might be brave in battle, but one thorn and they squealed like kits. He picked up a mouthful of marigold and began to chew the leaves into a pulp. A poultice would make sure Birchfall’s paw didn’t get infected.

Suddenly, he stiffened. Paws were pounding toward the camp. He tasted the air. Hollypaw’s fear-scent hit the back of his throat.

“Here, wash this into the cut!” He dropped the pulp at Birchfall’s paws and pushed through the trailing brambles that screened the den from the rest of the camp.

Hollypaw exploded into the camp. “Cinderpaw’s fallen out of the Sky Oak!”

Jaypaw gasped. “I’ll fetch Leafpool!” He pelted for the nursery where she was tending to Foxkit’s cold.

But Leafpool was already racing out. “Cinderpaw?”

Jaypaw skidded to a halt, narrowly avoiding her. She stopped, trembling, in the middle of the clearing. Horror pulsed from her like blood from a wound. No, not again! Her silent plea sliced into Jaypaw’s thoughts, as clear as if she’d cried out loud.

“You have to come at once!” Hollypaw wailed.

“What’s happened?” Firestar pounded across the clearing.

Paw steps sounded on every side as the Clan came running to see what was wrong.

“Cinderpaw was helping Mousepaw down the Sky Oak and she fell!” Hollypaw’s words came in great gulps.

“Leafpool, go to her!” Firestar ordered.

Come on! Jaypaw willed his mentor to move, but she seemed rooted to the spot, her terror blocking out every other thought. “What herbs will we need?” he prompted. He could feel Hollypaw trembling behind him.

“Poppy seeds?” he pressed when Leafpool didn’t answer.

Just as panic threatened to overwhelm him, Leafpool snapped out of her daze. He felt her mind clear, like rain lifting. “Poppy seeds, yes. Rushes and cobweb to bind any broken legs, and thyme for the shock.”

“I’ll fetch them,” Jaypaw offered.

“Please hurry!” Hollypaw begged.

“Who’s with her?” Leafpool demanded.

“Mousepaw, Ashfur, Cloudtail, and Brackenfur.”

“Good. She’ll need carrying.”