Dark River

Jaypaw felt tension spiking from Leafpool as she identified the WindClan she-cat. He knew there was some connection between his mentor and Nightcloud, who was the mate of Crowfeather. He had felt it thicken the air between them before, but he had no idea what it could be. As he probed Leafpool’s mind, his paws pricked with surprise. Was that jealousy?

“Tornear, Harepaw, and Owlwhisker are with her,” Dustpelt murmured. “Not bad, though I would have preferred it if Tornear had stayed in his nest.” Dustpelt’s pelt tickled Jaypaw’s flank as the warrior fluffed out his fur defensively.

“Relax,” Brambleclaw ordered. “They mustn’t think we’re showing any sign of aggression.”

“Because we’re begging a favor,” Dustpelt muttered under his breath.

“Silence!” Brambleclaw hissed. Then he raised his voice.

“Tornear!”

Hostility slammed against Jaypaw like a wave as the WindClan cats spotted the ThunderClan patrol. The air seemed to crackle around him and he tensed, suddenly afraid.

“What do you want?” Tornear’s mew was accusing.

Fur brushed heather as the WindClan patrol approached.

Jaypaw sensed Brambleclaw squaring himself to meet the WindClan cats. “Leafpool and Jaypaw wish to speak with Onestar.” Brambleclaw’s mew was calm, neither hostile nor yielding.

Surprise pulsed from Tornear’s pelt. “What for?”

“They wish to speak with Onestar,” Brambleclaw repeated.

Jaypaw felt suspicion wake in the WindClan cats’ minds.

He guessed they were looking at one another, wondering how to respond. Could they turn away medicine cats?

“Just Leafpool and Jaypaw?” Owlwhisker growled.

“We will wait here for them,” Brambleclaw assured him.

Silence hung in the air, like a hawk stalling before a dive.

“Then Owlwhisker and Harepaw will wait with you,” Tornear meowed slowly.

He’s going to let us cross the border! Jaypaw dug his claws into the grass, eager to get going.

“Can I trust you to see them safely to the camp and back?”

Brambleclaw asked.

Tornear snorted. “Of course you can!”

“Leafpool,” Brambleclaw meowed, “if you’re not back by sunhigh, we’ll fetch a patrol and come looking for you.” His mew was thick with warning aimed at the WindClan cats.

“She’ll be back,” Tornear growled.

Jaypaw heard Leafpool’s fur brush the heather as she crossed the border. He padded quickly after her and pressed against her. It was exciting to be traveling to the WindClan camp, but he suddenly felt vulnerable. An icy chill swept his fur as clouds blocked out the sun.

“Keep your chin high,” Leafpool whispered. She let her pelt brush his all the way to the camp, guiding him over the unfamiliar ground. Jaypaw only stumbled once when Leafpool didn’t warn him in time about a trailing branch of gorse.

Soon he smelled brambles and a stronger scent of WindClan. He sensed space beneath him as the ground dipped away in front of them. They had reached the camp.

“Stay close,” Tornear warned.

Jaypaw walked step-by-step with Leafpool as the WindClan warrior led them into a swath of bramble, through a twisting, turning tunnel that led down into a hollow. He could hear Nightcloud’s breath behind him as she brought up the rear. Then wind stroked his whiskers; they were out of the tunnel. For a moment he felt overwhelmed by the jumble of scents that filled his nose and mouth: warriors, apprentices, kits, nursing queens, herbs, rabbit…

They must be in the center of the camp. A fresh wind tugged Jaypaw’s fur. Watchful gazes stabbed his pelt.

“It’s that blind cat from ThunderClan.”

“What are they doing here?”

“Shall I fetch Barkface?”

The WindClan cats were emerging from their dens.

Jaypaw could feel curiosity, hostility, and even fear throbbing in the air.

Tornear was whispering to a young tom. Jaypaw strained to hear but before he could make out the words, the tom hared out of the camp.

“Onestar is out hunting,” Tornear announced. “You’ll have to wait.” He raised his voice to address his curious Clanmates.

“They’ve come to see Onestar!”

“Onestar?”

Alarm and suspicion rippled around the clearing. Jaypaw pricked his ears. This was not a Clan determined to expand their territory. They were frightened and confused. His belly tightened. Frightened cats were unpredictable. “Should we speak to Barkface instead and leave?” he murmured to Leafpool.

But Leafpool didn’t seem to hear. Her attention was flitting around the camp, as though she were searching for something or someone. Suddenly, an intense emotion sparked from her, almost making Jaypaw flinch. Excitement?

Grief? Anger? He couldn’t tell.

“You look well, Crowfeather.” Leafpool’s calm mew didn’t betray the storm raging in her mind.

Jealousy spiked behind Jaypaw. Nightcloud’s pelt was bristling.

“What are you doing here, Leafpool?” Crowfeather’s mew was curt and quiet. What is he feeling? Jaypaw studied the warrior’s mind but found it barbed with wariness.

“Firestar sent us to speak with Onestar,” Leafpool explained.

“He’s not here.”

“We know.” Leafpool sat down.

Jaypaw felt the first drop of rain dab his nose.