Darkest Night

Worry wormed beneath Violetpaw’s pelt. She may not want to risk it.

In front of her, Hawkwing stopped, and Violetpaw realized that the patrol was level with the stone slab. Nettlesplash had led them onto a thick branch. Smaller branches jutted from it, and Mintfur and Fidgetpaw had fanned out so that they had a good view of Frecklewish’s nest. Hawkwing edged forward onto the branch beside Fidgetpaw. He made room for Violetpaw and beckoned her forward. Gingerly, she padded over the wet bark and crouched behind him.

Warm light spilled through the clear wall of Frecklewish’s Twoleg nest and reflected in the puddles outside on the ledge.

“Can you see her?” Fidgetpaw hissed to Nettlesplash.

Nettlesplash was peering through the clear wall. “Not yet,” he meowed. “We’ll just have to wait.”

Rain seeped through Violetpaw’s pelt, reaching her skin. She tried not to shiver and dug her claws deep into the bark. Cold to the bone, she waited beside Hawkwing. Time seemed to pass slowly, and with the sun hidden, she had no idea how long they waited.

At last, Nettlesplash straightened. “I see her!”

Through the rain streaming down the clear wall, Violetpaw could see a mottled tabby moving in the warm light.

Nettlesplash yowled. Frecklewish’s face turned sharply toward him. Her eyes widened and she hurried closer. Violetpaw saw her talking. A Twoleg hurried to her side. Eagerly, Frecklewish escorted the Twoleg toward the clear wall.

Violetpaw could hear the medicine cat’s muffled mewing now. Her heart seemed to stop as the Twoleg slid the wall open and Frecklewish hurried onto the stone slab.

Nettlesplash ducked close to the branch as the Twoleg glanced outside, then closed the glass wall and disappeared inside the nest, leaving Frecklewish outside.

Frecklewish hopped onto the slab’s wall and called out excitedly. “What are you doing here? Is everything okay?”

“We’re fine,” Mintfur mewed.

“How are you?” Fidgetpaw asked anxiously.

“I’m fine,” Frecklewish called across the gap. “The Twolegs treat me well, but I want to get out of here.”

“That’s why we’ve come,” Nettlesplash told her.

“Have you thought of a way for me to escape?” Frecklewish looked down. Violetpaw followed her gaze, her head spinning as she took in the huge drop to the stone below. “I escaped through the nest entrance a few days ago, but I got lost before I made it all the way outside, and another Twoleg picked me up and brought me back.”

Violetpaw shuddered at the thought of being picked up by a Twoleg. She blinked sympathetically at Frecklewish.

Frecklewish seemed to notice her. Her eyes widened as her gaze flicked from Violetpaw to Hawkwing. “Hawkwing. You’re back!”

“We’ve come to take you to the lake,” Hawkwing called. “We have a new home there among the other Clans.”

Frecklewish’s eyes brightened. Happiness seemed to flood her gaze, then faded as she glanced down once more. “But how do I get out of here?”

“We have a plan.” Hawkwing nodded to Violetpaw.

Frecklewish blinked hopefully at Violetpaw.

Dread gripped Violetpaw’s belly. My plan is so dumb! She looked at the gap between the stone slab and the woven ledge, trembling as she realized how far it was from this angle. How had she ever imagined Frecklewish could make that jump? A thought flashed in her mind. There was another clear wall beside the woven ledge. Could Frecklewish get to it from inside?

Hesitantly, Violetpaw nodded to the woven ledge. “If you can get to that ledge, there’s a way down.”

Frecklewish followed her gaze, her wet pelt spiking.

“Can you get to it from inside the nest?” Violetpaw blinked at her hopefully.

Frecklewish shook her head. “No.”

“Can you jump to it?”

Frecklewish narrowed her eyes. “I’m not sure. I’ve thought about it before, but it didn’t seem to lead anywhere.”

“It does,” Violetpaw told her eagerly. “There are steps down to the next ledge. They go right to the bottom.”

Frecklewish’s eyes flashed with excitement. “All the way?”

“You’ll be able to climb down far enough to jump into the tree,” Violetpaw called through the rain. She wondered if she was doing the right thing. What if Frecklewish fell?

Nettlesplash edged closer to the end of his branch. “It’s a long jump,” he called, jerking his muzzle toward the gap between Frecklewish’s stone slab and the woven ledge. “We’ll understand if you don’t want to try.”

“But the lake!” Frecklewish stared at Hawkwing. “No. I can’t let you leave without me.”

Violetpaw stared at her through the pouring rain. Was she really going to try? Why did I mention my plan?

Frecklewish faced the woven ledge, her gaze fixed on the narrow struts that fenced it. The top shimmered with raindrops. She drew her hind legs in close, her forepaws curling over the edge of the stone. Her tail waved slowly back and forth as she balanced herself. She lifted her haunches. Violetpaw could see her bunching her muscles, ready to leap.