Darkest Night

Leafpool exchanged an anxious look with Kestrelflight.

Kestrelflight shrugged. “Once a leader has made up her mind, it is hard even for a medicine cat to change it.” He looked at Firestar. “They will come back in their own time, just as we did.”

Firestar’s emerald gaze was dark with worry. “There may not be time for that.”

Before he could explain, Leafpool gasped. A slender black she-cat was staring at her. “Hollyleaf!”

Alderheart knew of Leafpool’s daughter; the Clan told vague stories of how they thought she’d died in a tunnel, though her body was never found. Jayfeather and Lionblaze hardly spoke of their dead littermate, and when they did, there was a strange tension in their words. But there was no tension in Leafpool. She gazed on her kit, her eyes brimming with affection.

Hollyleaf blinked lovingly at her mother. There seemed a curious calm about the black warrior as she padded slowly forward. She reached Leafpool and they touched cheeks with such gentle solemnity that Alderheart felt his throat tighten.

“Are you happy here?” Alderheart heard Leafpool whisper.

“I am at peace,” Hollyleaf answered.

Kestrelflight’s mew snatched Alderheart’s attention away. “Onestar.” The WindClan medicine cat dipped his head low as he caught sight of his leader. “It is good to see you.”

“And you.” Onestar lifted his head. He looked so different from the thin, anxious cat Alderheart had seen last. He was young and strong again, starlight showing in his eyes.

As Kestrelflight threaded his way among his WindClan ancestors, Firestar sat down. His gaze was placid but his tail-tip flicked impatiently, as though he was resigned to the greetings that must be made, but anxious to speak. What did he want to say?

Puddleshine touched noses with ShadowClan cats. “Kinkfur! How are you?”

Kinkfur shook out her long gray fur. “It’s good to be free of aches and pains at last.”

Beside her, Crowfrost looked healthy, his black-and-white pelt sleek. Alderheart’s breath quickened. Which other ShadowClan cats were here? Was Needletail among them? He scanned the crowd hopefully, looking for her silver pelt. But he couldn’t see her. There was no sign of any of ShadowClan’s missing Clanmates, either. Were they still alive, or were they still finding their way to StarClan?

Firestar got to his paws and padded to the hilltop. “I realize it is good to see old friends,” he called. “But we have words to share.” As he spoke, a small, soft-furred, silver-gray tabby joined him.

Echosong! Alderheart recognized SkyClan’s dead medicine cat from his visions. He pushed his way to the front of the gathered cats. Firestar was eyeing them impatiently, clearly waiting to speak. Leafpool and Jayfeather joined Alderheart, Kestrelflight and Puddleshine at their side.

Firestar went on. “We are glad you have made room beside the lake for SkyClan.”

Delight surged in Alderheart’s belly. He’d been right. SkyClan was meant to stay beside the other Clans.

Firestar turned to Echosong, dipping his head respectfully.

She blinked at him and turned to the medicine cats. “SkyClan is where it belongs, but there are still challenges ahead for all the Clans. What you decide now will change your path forever. Remember only this.” She paused, her green eyes grave. “The dark sky must not herald a storm.”

Alderheart’s fur lifted along his spine. The dark sky must not herald a storm. Despite the warm sunshine, he felt a chill pierce his pelt and shivered at her words. What did she mean? He looked at Jayfeather, hoping to see understanding in his blue gaze. But the ThunderClan medicine cat was fading before his eyes. All around him the grass and sky and cats were dissolving into a shimmering haze. He felt himself fall, his heart rushing into his mouth as darkness engulfed him.

The smooth cold stone of the Moonpool hollow shocked his paws. He opened his eyes. The Moonpool seemed to shiver. The reflected stars glimmered on its surface. “What did Echosong mean?”

The other medicine cats sat up. They looked at each other, puzzled.

“Another prophecy.” Jayfeather got to his paws and flicked his tail irritably. “Let’s not waste time trying to make sense of it here. We’ll pass it on to our leaders and let them decide what must be done.”

“No!” Alderheart stiffened. “We must try to understand. If it was left to our leaders, we never would have found SkyClan.”

Leafpool blinked at him. “We need to think about it, certainly. And discuss it once we’ve thought. Perhaps there will be another sign to guide us. But it won’t come tonight.”

The others nodded in agreement. There was nothing Alderheart could do but follow them toward the rim of the hollow, anxiety worming beneath his pelt. He had been hoping to see Needletail, but there had been no hint of her. If she wasn’t with StarClan, where was she? Overhead, the half-moon shone silently while the wind moaned around the hollow.

I hope she is at peace, wherever she is.

CHAPTER 6