Darkest Night

Finpaw purred with amusement. “I’m glad we don’t have elders. I mean, Fallowfern is officially an elder, but she’s not old; she’s just deaf. But it’s hard enough listening to the warriors reminiscing about how good it used to be before the rogues came. If elders joined in, they’d never talk about anything else.”

“I don’t know why they can’t just look forward instead of backward,” Twigpaw agreed. “It’s so great that SkyClan is beside the lake now. You’re going to love it here.” She felt a twinge of homesickness. “I wish I could show you around ThunderClan territory. It’s so pretty and there are so many places to play.” She paused, remembering suddenly the small clearing where Alderheart and Needletail had brought her and Violetpaw to play together when they were kits. “I know a place here, on SkyClan territory,” she mewed excitedly. “At least, I think it’s on SkyClan territory now. I used to play with Violetpaw there.”

“I thought you said you couldn’t play with her after she left.”

Twigpaw winked at him. “It’s a secret. I didn’t want Leafpool to know.”

“Can we go and find it?” Finpaw’s pelt ruffled eagerly.

“Now?” Twigpaw’s paws itched at the thought. “You’re confined to camp until your tail is fully healed and I’m meant to be resting.”

Finpaw flicked his half tail toward her. The wound was almost healed. “I’m only waiting for the fur to grow back,” he mewed. “And you said you feel fine.”

“I do.” Twigpaw’s head ached a little, but she was sure fresh air would be better for it than sitting in a stuffy den.

“Let’s go, then.” Finpaw got to his paws. “We know where Leafpool is, so we can avoid her, and we’ll be back before she’s finished collecting herbs.”

“What about Sandynose?”

Finpaw stuck his head out of the den quickly, then turned back to Twigpaw. “There’s no sign of him. The only cat in camp is Fallowfern, and she’s sleeping.”

“She probably doesn’t even know that we’re meant to stay in camp.” Twigpaw stood and stretched. Her aches were gone and she could hardly feel her bruises. She felt sure that her headache would be gone, too, by the time they found the clearing.

Finpaw slid out of the den first and glanced around the camp as Twigpaw followed. Fallowfern dozed beside the bramble nursery, sheltered from the damp air by the overhanging fronds of the bracken behind her. She snored as Finpaw and Twigpaw crept to the camp entrance.

“It’s all clear,” Finpaw breathed, peeping out.

Quickly they darted from the camp and raced along the rise to the cover of a patch of ferns. They ducked down behind them while Twigpaw scanned the forest. She tried to remember where the clearing had been. She knew it must be between the ThunderClan camp and the ShadowClan camp, so she began to lead the way toward the ditches. That would take them in the right direction.

“Why didn’t you want Leafpool to know you used to play with Violetpaw?” Finpaw asked as he followed her.

Twigpaw glanced back at him. “Alderheart and Needletail used to take us there in secret. It was the only way we could see each other after ShadowClan and ThunderClan separated us.”

“You must have missed her.”

“She was the only kin I knew.” Twigpaw realized, with a flash of guilt, that she had enjoyed being the only kin Violetpaw could rely on. Now Violetpaw had Hawkwing and a whole Clan to belong to. She doesn’t need me anymore. She paused. But I need them, surely?

“Are you missing her now?” Finpaw asked.

“Sure.” But it’s nice having you all to myself. She avoided his gaze, relieved when she recognized the curving slope ahead. Brambles edged the base and she climbed it, quickening her step as she remembered where it led. “This way.”

She scrambled down the other side and hopped the fallen tree she had hidden behind the first time they’d come. The forest opened around her, and she gazed up at the sky. The clouds were darkening. Rain was on the way.

“We mustn’t stay long.” A tom’s mew sounded behind the clump of ferns ahead of her. Twigpaw stiffened. Someone was already here. “I’m supposed to be checking on Scorchfur’s patrol.”

A she-cat answered. “I promised Squirrelflight I’d bring back prey. I need to hunt before I go home.”

“Quick! Hide!” Pushing Finpaw back, Twigpaw ducked behind the fallen tree.

“What—”

Twigpaw cut him off. “Hush. Someone’s here. We can’t be seen out of camp.”

“Who is it?” Finpaw peeked over the bark.

“Don’t let them see you!” Twigpaw tugged his fur with her paw.

“They’re behind the ferns,” Finpaw whispered. “They won’t see us, and we’re downwind.”

Twigpaw tasted the air. She could smell the other cats. ShadowClan scent mingled with ThunderClan. She popped her head up beside Finpaw’s and strained to make out the pelts through the shriveling ferns.