Darkest Night

Leafstar glanced at the falling rain. “No cat wants to be out on a day like this. And, until Hawkwing returns with our Clanmates, our patrols are a little thin.”

As she spoke, Quailkit and Pigeonkit tumbled out of the nursery.

“Invaders!” Quailkit squeaked in alarm.

Sunnykit scrambled out, puffing her ginger kit-fluff against the weather.

Quailkit shook rain from his crow-black ears. “Are they rogues?”

“No, dear.” Tinycloud followed her kits out. “They’re ThunderClan warriors.”

“I thought ThunderClan warriors were like foxes,” Sunnykit mewed.

“That’s ShadowClan,” Pigeonkit announced knowledgeably.

Tinycloud swept her tail around them and scooped them close, shielding them from the rain. “Be quiet, my dears, and listen.”

Beside the medicine den, Reedpaw sat back on her haunches and poked Leafpool. “Your Clanmates are here.”

Leafpool, absorbed in her work, looked up. “Thornclaw!” Her gaze warmed when she saw the golden-brown tom. She shook mud and moss from her paws and crossed the camp to greet him. “How’s Blossomfall?”

“She’s well.” Thornclaw nodded graciously.

“And the kits?” Leafpool’s eyes sparkled.

“Eaglekit and Shellkit are determined to climb the rock tumble and explore Bramblestar’s cave,” Thornclaw told her. “Stemkit and Plumkit prefer to hang around the medicine den.”

Leafpool purred. “I expect Jayfeather isn’t too pleased.”

“No.” Thornclaw’s whiskers twitched. “But Alderheart says he enjoys having something to complain about.”

A twinge of homesickness jabbed Twigpaw’s heart. Jayfeather used to complain about her.

Ivypool looked at Thornclaw, her eyes dark. “We came to discuss a serious matter.”

Thornclaw lowered his head as she went on.

“We’re searching for Dovewing.” Ivypool’s mew was taut with worry.

Leafstar tipped her head to one side. “Is she missing?”

“She left camp two days ago and hasn’t been seen since.”

Twigpaw stiffened. She’s gone?

“Did she say where she was going?” Leafstar asked.

Lionblaze’s pelt rippled along his spine. “She left without a word to anyone.”

Leafpool leaned closer. “Have you searched the forest?”

“We’ve searched ThunderClan’s part of the forest,” Ivypool told her. “We’ve also traveled to ShadowClan’s camp to ask if they’ve seen her.”

“Have they?” Leafstar asked.

“Rowanstar says they haven’t.” Ivypool’s ears twitched uneasily.

Leafstar turned to Sandynose. “Has there been any sign of her on SkyClan territory?”

“No cat’s reported any strange scents to me,” he reported.

“No cat?” Ivypool looked at Twigpaw.

Twigpaw shifted her paws guiltily. Should she have reported seeing Tigerheart and Dovewing? Ivypool stared at her wordlessly until Leafstar followed her gaze. Sandynose narrowed his eyes.

“Twigpaw? Do you know something?” Leafstar asked.

Twigpaw’s pelt prickled uncomfortably. “I saw Dovewing talking to Tigerheart near the ThunderClan border a quarter moon ago.” She glanced at Ivypool quizzically. Why had her former mentor put her in this position? “But it didn’t seem to be anything to do with SkyClan.”

“Were they on our territory?” Leafstar asked.

“Yes, but they were talking about ShadowClan,” Twigpaw mewed quickly.

Leafstar’s ears pricked. “What were they saying?”

Twigpaw’s thoughts seemed to tangle into knots. What should she say? Should she betray Tigerheart’s fears for ShadowClan? Or his love for Dovewing? Words shriveled on her tongue. She felt she was being disloyal to everyone. “Tigerheart was worried about his Clan, that’s all,” she mewed at last.

Leafstar narrowed her eyes.

Sandynose padded toward Twigpaw. “Why didn’t you report this at the time?”

“It didn’t seem important.”

“They were on our territory,” Sandynose growled.

“But it was ShadowClan’s land half a moon ago. I just figured borders weren’t as fixed as they used to be.”

Sandynose’s gaze glittered with anger. “Since when were a Clan’s borders not fixed?”

Twigpaw looked at the ground. “There have just been so many changes lately,” she mumbled.

“Yes,” Sandynose meowed icily. “Perhaps, for some cats, change isn’t always good.”

What did he mean by that? She looked at him, alarmed. His unwavering gaze pierced hers. Did he think she should have stayed with ThunderClan?

Leafstar whisked her tail. “Did you ask Tigerheart about Dovewing?” she asked Ivypool.

“I questioned him.” Ivypool lifted her chin. “But he said he hasn’t seen her.”

“And you believe him?” Leafstar asked.

“Would you?” Ivypool retorted.

Leafstar shrugged. “All I know about Tigerheart is that it was his idea to give us this territory. Feel free to search our land.” She dipped her head to Ivypool. “But you must be back across your border by sunset.”

“Thank you.” Ivypool stared for a moment at the SkyClan leader, then turned away. Lionblaze, Thornclaw, and Fernsong followed her to the camp entrance.

Twigpaw watched them leave, her belly tight. She wanted to run after Ivypool and ask her why she’d forced her to confess to seeing Dovewing. Did she want to make her life difficult in SkyClan? Was she still angry at her for leaving ThunderClan? Was I disloyal?