Darkest Night

Suddenly, the clear wall opened behind her. A Twoleg stepped out into the rain, its eyes wide as it stared at Frecklewish.

Frecklewish leaped.

The Twoleg lunged toward her with a howl. As its hands slapped the wall, Frecklewish’s hind paws slipped clumsily.

She’s going to fall! Violetpaw’s heart seemed to jump into her throat as Frecklewish sailed through the air, forepaws stretching.

Violetpaw darted forward, but Hawkwing steadied her with a paw. “Don’t move!” Half-blind with terror, she looked down. The ground seemed to swim far below them. Don’t let her die!

A clang jarred her from her stupor as Frecklewish hit the thin fence of the woven ledge hard. Her forepaws curled over the narrow strut at the top. Her hind paws scrabbled against the slippery bars below. Pelt bristling with terror, she fought to get a grip. Then, with a long, low, grunt, she hauled herself over the top and slithered to safety.

Violetpaw melted against Hawkwing as relief washed through every muscle. “She made it.” Her mew was no more than a breath.

“Quick!” Nettlesplash hurried toward the trunk and began scrambling down the tree. Fidgetpaw raced after him.

Frecklewish was already leaping down the first flight of steps, making the ledge rattle. The Twoleg stared after her for a moment, then turned and raced back into its nest.

“It’s chasing her!” Mintfur stared after the Twoleg as it disappeared inside. She rushed after Nettlesplash.

Violetpaw followed, Hawkwing at her heels. Half jumping, half sliding, she climbed after the SkyClan warriors. She could hear Frecklewish keeping pace with them. The woven ledge rang with her paw steps. Near the bottom of the tree, Nettlesplash bounded nimbly along a long low branch. At the end, he leaned out as Frecklewish landed on the bottom ledge, a tail-length from the branch. She leaped over the enclosing fence, hardly touching it as she launched herself toward the tree.

Nettlesplash reached out a paw and hooked Frecklewish’s pelt, then hauled her the final muzzle-length into the safety of the oak.

Behind her, the Twoleg climbed through a clear wall onto the woven ledge and yelped.

Violetpaw stood frozen with shock beside the trunk.

Mintfur nudged her. “Let’s get out of here.” She bundled Violetpaw onto the branch below.

Violetpaw could see Gravelpaw, Palepaw, Fringepaw, and Nectarpaw staring up, their eyes wide. Rabbitleap and Blossomheart watched, pelts on end. She swung herself around the lowest branch and clung to the trunk. The bark scraped her belly as she dropped like a stone onto the ground. “We’ve got her!” she told the trembling apprentices. They surged past her as Fidgetpaw and Frecklewish scrambled down the trunk.

Violetpaw hung back as the SkyClan cats wound around each other, purring louder than the rain. Hawkwing rubbed his cheek along Frecklewish’s. “It’s good to see you.”

Clattering sounded from the Twoleg hive. Huge paw steps pounded the stone. “Let’s go!” Violetpaw yowled as she spied the Twoleg running toward the tree.

She pelted away, Gravelpaw darting in front of her. Mintfur and Palepaw raced at her side. She glanced back to see Hawkwing, Nettlesplash, and Frecklewish running after her with Rabbitleap and Blossomheart.

Behind them, the Twoleg slowed to a halt, its small eyes staring in surprise.

We did it! Joy surged beneath Violetpaw’s pelt. They had rescued Frecklewish and found the last of SkyClan. In a few days, they’d be home.

CHAPTER 16

Twigpaw squeezed into the warriors’ den and shook the rain from her pelt. She’d lost track of how long it had been raining. Days had passed since the dark clouds had rolled over the forest, and now every den was dripping and every nest was damp. Leafpool fretted over her herb store, worried that her carefully gathered leaves might begin to rot. Hunting patrols brought back soaked prey. Twigpaw wondered how Hawkwing and Violetpaw were managing to stay dry. Surely they’d be back soon? They’d been gone nearly a half-moon.

Macgyver’s mew snatched her from her thoughts. “Have you brought a poultice for my paws?” The black-and-white tom blinked from his nest.

“Leafpool will bring some later,” Twigpaw told him. “Sandynose sent me to groom you.”

Macgyver had lost his grip on a tree trunk the day before and slithered down the wet bark, slicing his pads. He’d landed heavily and sprained his shoulder and now lay in his nest, too stiff to move.

Twigpaw’s nose wrinkled at the smell of him. The dampness had turned his pelt sour, and she didn’t relish the thought of working her tongue through his fur in search of fleas and ticks. He was a Clanmate in need and she didn’t begrudge him. But she felt irritated with Sandynose for giving her the task.