Darkest Night

Feeling a pang in her stomach, Twigpaw hurried toward the fresh-kill pile. A group of RiverClan cats sat clustered below Highledge. Reedwhisker, Mintfur, Brackenpelt, and Icewing, who had been held captive by Darktail and his rogues, still looked thin and hollow-eyed after their ordeal. They had been starved in captivity, and their wounds had been left to fester. Now Lakeheart and Mallownose flanked them protectively while Willowshine licked another sticky poultice into Mintfur’s scratches.

ThunderClan’s patrols were back in camp, too. Berrynose and Poppyfrost were enjoying some prey beside the warriors’ den, while Brightheart and Cloudtail shared tongues nearby. Jayfeather was outside the medicine den, helping Briarlight with her exercises. Birchfall stood at the center of the clearing, looking lost. He craned his neck, scanning the countless pelts as though looking for someone, then purred with delight as he caught sight of Whitewing and hurried to join her.

As Twigpaw picked her way between the cats sprawled around the clearing, Graystripe pushed his way out of the elders’ den. Behind him, the honeysuckle walls bulged as cats moved inside. Mosspelt, the RiverClan elder, and two cats from SkyClan had made nests there. Graystripe shook out his fur. “Fresh air!” he rumbled, sounding relieved. “It’s so stuffy in there, even the fleas are trying to get out.”

His mew was swallowed by the chatter of the other cats. But from Highledge, Bramblestar caught the elder’s eye and nodded sympathetically.

Finally, Twigpaw reached the fresh-kill pile and dropped her prey.

“Have you seen this?” Molewhisker was already there. “RiverClan brought back frogs.” He was staring in disgust at the smooth, fat bodies among the furry forest prey.

Twigpaw wrinkled her nose. “I guess they like the taste.”

“Just so long as they don’t try to feed them to us,” Molewhisker sniffed.

Cherryfall dropped her rabbit onto the pile. “At least they caught something.” She glanced pointedly at the SkyClan cats. “Some of our visitors are still too weak to hunt.”

Twigpaw bristled. “It’s not their fault. They’ve been through a lot.”

Ivypool brushed past and laid her catch on the ground. “Jayfeather said they’re supposed to rest until they get their strength back.”

Cherryfall grunted. “And who’s going to help us get our strength back after we’ve finished feeding half the forest?”

As Lionblaze and Fernsong laid their prey beside the others’, Lionblaze looked sternly at Cherryfall. “Complaining isn’t going to help anyone.”

“She’s allowed to have an opinion.” Molewhisker moved closer to the ginger she-cat and glared at Lionblaze. “Besides, are we even sure that SkyClan is a real Clan?”

Cherryfall flicked her tail in agreement. “They might just be another bunch of rogues.”

Twigpaw stared at her. How could she say that?

She opened her mouth to defend her father’s Clan, but Fernsong spoke first. “Bramblestar says they are one of the original Clans. Are you doubting your leader?” The pale yellow tabby tom blinked at Molewhisker.

“Then why hadn’t we heard about SkyClan before? How come only Bramblestar knew about them?”

Ivypool flicked her tail crossly. “StarClan knew about them,” she meowed. “Are you contradicting our ancestors?”

Twigpaw felt a rush of gratitude toward her mentor.

Ivypool went on. “It’s not SkyClan’s fault they returned to us at such a bad time.”

“They had to return now,” Lionblaze added. “It was part of the prophecy.”

“But they didn’t return because StarClan showed them the way.” Cherryfall turned her gaze on Twigpaw. “Some cat brought them here because she wanted to find her father.”

“That was part of StarClan’s prophecy, too,” Lionblaze retorted. “We found Twigpaw in the shadows so that she could clear the sky—”

Twigpaw couldn’t listen to any more. Cherryfall’s words were stinging like nettles. She turned away, hot with shame. Cherryfall was right. She had searched for SkyClan because she’d wanted to find her father. Her paws hadn’t been guided by StarClan but by her own selfishness.

“Wait.” Ivypool hurried after Twigpaw.

Twigpaw stopped, her pelt pricking with worry. “I didn’t mean to spoil everything.”

“You did a huge thing by bringing SkyClan here,” Ivypool told her. “This is where they belong. StarClan wanted them to return, and you’re the one who found them.” She touched her nose to Twigpaw’s head. “I am so proud of you. And”—she pulled back and looked Twigpaw in the eyes—“I’m sorry that I didn’t support you when you wanted to find your kin.”

Twigpaw looked at Ivypool gratefully. It did make her feel better to hear her mentor apologize. If ThunderClan had sent out a search party, Twigpaw wouldn’t have had to go out on her own, against Bramblestar’s orders. But more than that, it had hurt Twigpaw not to have her mentor’s support on something so important to her. “Thank you.” She closed her eyes. “But I’m worried I may have caused more trouble for the Clans by bringing SkyClan here.”