Darkest Night

Reaching them, Twigpaw saw the warriors straining against the branch. Hawkwing, Sandynose, Fallowfern, and Rabbitleap pressed their shoulders to the bark and heaved. Blossomheart and Macgyver had worked a smaller branch underneath and were trying to lever the fallen branch clear. Their paws slithered on the pine needles, and Sandynose grunted with effort. But the branch didn’t budge.

Puddleshine slid past them and crouched beside Finpaw’s tail. He examined it, then leaned close to Finpaw’s head. He ran a paw over his head and spine. “Are you hurt anywhere else?”

Finpaw didn’t answer. His eyes were glazed over.

“He’s in shock,” Puddleshine meowed. “We need to get him warm.”

Plumwillow pressed close to her kit, her eyes glittering with fear.

“It’s not going to budge.” Hawkwing stared frantically at the branch.

“Can we pull his tail out?” Macgyver asked.

Puddleshine shook his head. “It’s pinned too tight.”

Twigpaw felt sick.

“I need to cut him clear,” Puddleshine meowed starkly. “Find me a sharp stone.”

“Cut?” Plumwillow stared at the ShadowClan medicine cat with alarm. “Are you sure?”

Puddleshine lowered his voice. “If he stays here much longer, he will die of shock. He’s hardly conscious. Cutting it now is our only option.”

Plumwillow seemed to freeze, her gaze fixed on the medicine cat.

Sandynose padded to her side. He looked at Puddleshine. “Is it the only way to save him?”

Puddleshine nodded.

“Then do it,” Sandynose meowed.

Puddleshine looked at Plumwillow, as though asking for her permission. The dark gray she-cat nodded.

As Macgyver dropped a sharp stone beside him, Puddleshine leaned closer to Finpaw’s tail. With a flick of his own tail, he waved the warriors away.

Trembling, Twigpaw hurried to her father’s side. “Will Finpaw be okay?”

“We don’t know yet.” He touched his muzzle to her cheek. He felt strong and warm, and she sheltered against him. “Let’s get you back to camp.”

Twigpaw glanced toward Finpaw. He was a small, limp shape, half hidden by Puddleshine. “I don’t want to leave him,” she whispered. Finpaw felt like the first friend she’d made in SkyClan. What if he died?

“Puddleshine will do his best,” Hawkwing promised. “And Sandynose and Plumwillow are with him. You feel cold. I think you should be in your nest. You’re probably quite shocked too.”

Twigpaw suddenly realized her sister was missing. “Where’s Violetpaw?”

“Rabbitleap took her hunting with Leafstar.” Hawkwing gently nudged Twigpaw forward. “She may be back by now. Let’s go and see.”

Twigpaw glanced over her shoulder, her belly tightening as she heard Finpaw gasp with pain.

Hawkwing guided her away quickly.

Violetpaw met them at the camp entrance. “Where has everyone gone?” she asked. Rabbitleap was standing beside the stream, looking around the deserted camp.

“They’re trying to help Finpaw. He’s had an accident,” Hawkwing told Violetpaw.

Rabbitleap hurried over. “Is it bad?”

“His tail is trapped beneath a branch,” Hawkwing explained. “Puddleshine is with him now.”

Rabbitleap flicked his tail anxiously. “I wish Echosong were still with us.”

“Or Frecklewish,” Hawkwing meowed.

As he spoke, Leafstar ducked through the fern tunnel. “I smell fear-scent. What’s happened?”

Twigpaw was still trembling. She felt cold to the bone.

“Rabbitleap can tell you,” Hawkwing mewed softly. “I want to get Twigpaw to her nest.”

“Is she okay?” Leafstar looked worried.

Violetpaw’s eyes widened. “Did Twigpaw get hurt too?”

Twigpaw gazed at them blankly, her mind spinning. Finpaw was suffering! Why were they wasting time worrying about her?

“She’s just a little shocked and cold.” Hawkwing led Twigpaw to the temporary apprentices’ den, and ushered her inside.

As Twigpaw curled into her nest, Violetpaw hooked a wad of moss from her own nest and gave it to Hawkwing. “This will help her warm up.”

Hawkwing draped it over Twigpaw, tucking it in at the edges. Gratefully, Twigpaw snuggled deep into her nest.

Fur brushed the branches near the den entrance as Leafstar slid inside. “How is she?”

“She’ll be fine,” Hawkwing reassured her.

“Who are Echosong and Frecklewish?” Violetpaw asked suddenly.

Leafstar blinked at her. “They were our medicine cats once. Echosong died on the journey here. Frecklewish disappeared before we left the gorge.”

Hawkwing lapped the top of Twigpaw’s head with his tongue, and finally Twigpaw closed her eyes.

Leafstar’s voice seemed far away. “We don’t even know if Frecklewish is still alive.”

“Maybe we could find out,” Hawkwing meowed. “Isn’t it time we sent a patrol back to the gorge to look for our lost Clanmates?”

“Can I go?” Violetpaw asked eagerly.

“It’s too soon to decide who will go,” Leafstar meowed thoughtfully. “But you’re right, Hawkwing. It’s time we sent one.”

Twigpaw felt herself drifting into sleep. A patrol? To the gorge? If Violetpaw’s going, I should join too. It might be dangerous.

But what about Finpaw? As dreams began to swirl around her, Twigpaw clung to one thought.