Leafpool’s Wish

She had already betrayed ThunderClan once by leaving them when the badgers attacked. When Cinderpelt died because Leafpool had chosen to go away with Crowfeather, Leafpool had made a vow to StarClan that she would never abandon her duties. Wherever you are, Cinderpelt, if you can hear me, I promise that I will never leave our Clan again.

In her belly, her kits thrashed in protest. What about us? they seemed to be saying. Leafpool was about to twist around and press her muzzle against her side when she realized that Daisy was watching her. She forced herself to stand up straight and trotted over to the Highledge. There was only one place she could go to think clearly.

“Firestar, I need to visit the Moonpool.”

The ThunderClan leader looked surprised. “Really? Can’t it wait until the half-moon? Or is there something you’re not telling me?”

“Of course there isn’t,” Leafpool lied. “But it is important.”

“Then you must go,” mewed Firestar. He stretched his forepaws over the side of his nest. “Brightheart can take care of Brambleclaw’s wounds while you’re gone.” Leafpool opened her mouth to speak but he continued, with a glint in his eye, “And I promise to stay in my den for the rest of today. Although I presume I’m allowed to poke my head out for some fresh air?”

Leafpool purred. “Only your head, nothing more!” The thought of being able to go to the Moonpool made her dizzy with relief. The StarClan warriors would show her the way forward, remind her that she was not alone and that everything would be all right.

Firestar flicked his ears. “You must leave now if you want to reach the Moonpool before darkness. Go well, and be safe.”

Leafpool blinked gratefully at him. “Thank you, Firestar. I will return as soon as I can.”

She ran down the tumble of rocks to the clearing, careful not to let the weight of the kits unbalance her. She found Brightheart stocking the fresh-kill pile and told her she would be away for a day, no more. Brightheart agreed to check Brambleclaw’s injuries, though there was a flash of alarm in her single blue eye.

“Is everything all right, Leafpool? Has there been an omen?”

“Everything’s going to be fine,” Leafpool told her.

Squirrelflight dragged a blackbird up to the pile. “Are you going somewhere?”

“To the Moonpool. I need to speak with StarClan.”

Squirrelflight looked up at the dark gray sky. “There’s a storm on the way. Are you sure you should go alone?”

“Of course,” Leafpool meowed. “StarClan will light my path.”

Her sister nodded to the blackbird. “Do you want something to eat before you go?”

“No, I want to be there by nightfall.” Leafpool touched her muzzle to Squirrelflight’s and turned away before the she-cats could ask any more questions. In spite of the heaviness inside her belly, her steps felt light and quick. StarClan would show her what she must do!

The storm hit just as Leafpool started the rocky climb up to the hollow where the Moonpool lay. Freezing wind buffeted her fur and flung sharp pellets of hail at her until her skin was soaked and sore. Leafpool lowered her head and plodded on, sinking her claws into the mud between the rocks so the wind wouldn’t blow her off the path. Inside her, the kits seemed to curl up in fear.

Don’t be scared, little ones. I will keep you safe.

Leafpool was trembling so much from cold and exhaustion when she reached the top of the hollow that her paws could hardly carry her down the print-marked spiral path. She stumbled to the edge of the Moonpool, ruffled and black in the half-light, and let her body fold onto the hard stone. Waves splashed against her muzzle. Too tired to utter a prayer to StarClan, Leafpool plunged into sleep.

She opened her eyes in a warm green forest, with sunlight slicing between the branches. There was the scent of prey on the air, and the rustle of a small furry animal in a nearby patch of ferns. Leafpool looked around for the StarClan warriors she hoped to see—and saw a slender dark gray cat watching her with his head on one side.

“Your turn, Leafpool,” he prompted. He nudged a ball of moss with his forepaw. “Remember what I showed you about pouncing.”

Crowfeather! Then she was not in StarClan, but back in a memory of the time she had spent with the WindClan warrior, in the woods beyond the ThunderClan border.

Crowfeather flicked his tail. “Don’t be afraid of some moss!” he teased. “Rabbits have teeth and claws to fight back with, but this won’t hurt you.”

Leafpool crouched down and crept toward the moss. She flattened her ears, shifted her weight onto her haunches, and sprang forward with her legs outstretched. At the very last moment, Crowfeather rolled the ball of moss away with his paw and Leafpool’s claws grasped at thin air.

“Oh no!” Crowfeather purred. “It escaped!”