Darkest Night

The small monster’s paws squealed on the stone as the Twoleg inside stared in horror at Violetpaw. The monster let out a wail, as though warning her to move. It swerved suddenly, the Twoleg’s eyes bulging as it dived in front of the green monster, veering so close that its flank caught the green monster’s nose. Violetpaw stared, as though watching a nightmare from a long way away. Hypnotized, she heard the thump of their thick hides collide. The small monster spun out across the Thunderpath and came to a juddering halt on the far side.

Teeth grabbed her scruff, and Hawkwing’s fear-scent bathed her as her paws half lifted from the stone. With a grunt, her father dragged her clear. He dropped her on the embankment beside her Clanmates. Blinking dumbly, she gazed at them.

“What in StarClan were you doing!” Hawkwing glared at her. “You just stood there while it—” His mew stopped short. Grief glittered in his gaze. He thrust his muzzle against her neck, his breath hot and quick. “You could have been killed.”

Stiff with shock, Violetpaw looked back at the small monster, silent now on the far side of the Thunderpath. The big green monster had stopped and a Twoleg had jumped out. It ran to the small monster, where another Twoleg had climbed free. The Twolegs yelped at each other for a few moments, and then the Twoleg from the small monster pointed at Violetpaw. As its gaze fixed on her, panic flashed fresh inside her.

“Run!” she shrieked.

She pelted away from the Thunderpath, glancing behind to see the others chasing after her. She kept running, slithering beneath a fence and tearing over a wide stretch of earth, until the sounds of the Thunderpath dimmed behind her.

She stopped, her lungs burning. Hawkwing slowed to a halt beside her, and Molewhisker, Rabbitleap, and Blossomheart pulled up a few tail-lengths ahead. Their flanks heaved as they stared at one another with wide, round eyes.

“I’m sorry,” Violetpaw puffed. Her fur was still on end. “I froze.”

“You’re safe now,” Rabbitleap grunted between breaths. “That’s all that matters.”

“I didn’t know monsters attacked each other!” Blossomheart was trembling. “Why do Twolegs go near them?”

“Who knows why Twolegs do anything.” Molewhisker shook out his fur. “Let’s go. We’ve still got a long way to travel.”

Hawkwing looked at Violetpaw, concern shadowing his eyes. “Are you okay?”

She nodded, swallowing back fear. “Thanks for saving me.”

“I will always save you if I can.” Hawkwing blinked at her. “I just wish I had been around to save your mother.”

Violetpaw was in the starlit woods again. Was it another dream?

Needletail’s mew sounded from the darkness. “You made your choice.”

Violetpaw strained to see her friend’s pelt between the trees. “Wait! Please wait! I can’t lose you.”

Silver flashed in the shadows, weaving between the black trunks. Once more Violetpaw saw Needletail’s green gaze flash at her accusingly.

“I thought you wanted to lose me.”

Violetpaw jerked awake, her heart twisting with grief. She blinked in the darkness of the crevice where the patrol had sheltered for the night. Her Clanmates, plus Molewhisker, were curled around her, squashed into the narrow gap between two boulders, sheltered from the chilly wind.

Her heart was thumping hard. She needed fresh air and to walk off the anxiety itching beneath her pelt. Hardly breathing, she got to her paws and delicately picked her way around the sleeping cats. Molewhisker stretched out his legs, pushing against Rabbitleap, who snorted, wriggled, and fell still as Hawkwing snored softly beside him. At the entrance, Violetpaw hopped out into the fresh wind.

Outside, the moon glowed through thin cloud. The boulders opened onto a sandy clearing in an oak forest. They’d trekked through it most of the afternoon, stopping to hunt and then rest once the sun began to set behind the trees. Violetpaw drew in a deep breath of air, letting it soothe her. A light breeze made the leaves rattle overhead. Somewhere in the distance, a fox screeched. An owl answered as if telling it to be quiet.

Violetpaw padded cautiously between the trees. If she couldn’t sleep, she might as well hunt. Her Clanmates would be pleased to wake to fresh-kill. Opening her mouth, she tasted the air. Among the musty scents of fallen leaves, she smelled mouse.

Violetpaw slowed, scanning the shadows for movement. Something glowed between the trees. She blinked, wondering if she was imagining the hazy light ahead, and padded closer. Curiosity pricked her pelt. Was it a patch of moonlight on the forest floor? But the moon was hidden, and starlight wouldn’t be strong enough to make such a bright pool. She widened her eyes, straining to see.

A familiar scent touched her nose. Needletail? As she neared the glow, she saw the shape of a cat. She recognized it at once. It was Needletail! Am I still dreaming? She curled her claws into the fallen leaves. They crunched. The breeze in her fur felt real. I am awake! She was sure of it.