Lost Stars

I wish she’d seen that great fighting move I pulled off!

Then Rootpaw remembered his last meeting with Bristlepaw, at the Gathering. She had seemed chilly and distant. And everything was going so terribly for the other Clans. Rootpaw had noticed how skinny and miserable they all looked, much worse than the cats of SkyClan, who had the advantage of sheltered territory.

They’re all short on prey, and it sounds as if things are getting worse. I wish there were something I could do to help.

“Hey, Rootpaw!”

Needlepaw’s voice startled Rootpaw out of his musing, and he realized that he had fallen so far behind that the others were almost out of sight. Bounding forward, he caught up with them just before they reached the camp entrance.

Tree was on his way out, and he dipped his head to the two mentors as they passed. He would have continued without speaking, but Dewspring halted and meowed, “We’ve just had a good training session. Rootpaw and Needlepaw are doing really well.”

“Yes, they’re working hard,” Reedclaw agreed. “And they’re always cheerful, even when we tell them to clear out the soiled bedding!”

Tree listened gravely, though Rootpaw couldn’t tell whether he was pleased by their mentors’ praise. “Thank you for telling me,” he murmured at last.

The two mentors continued into the camp, but Tree held his kits back with a gesture of his tail. “Don’t be too obedient,” he advised them. “It’s important to think for yourselves, too.”

“I know,” Needlepaw responded instantly. “Don’t worry; it’s not a problem.”

Rootpaw couldn’t share his sister’s easy acceptance of what their father had said. Why can’t Tree behave like the rest of our Clanmates? he asked himself, trying to hide his irritation. Doesn’t he know how important it is to be part of a Clan?

Once he had said good-bye to Tree and headed on into camp, Rootpaw’s thoughts flew back to Bristlepaw and his time in ThunderClan. The whole Clan had been kind to take care of him, and Bristlepaw had been so brave to save him from drowning. She’s a real Clan cat! I wish Tree were more like her. He hated to think of her going hungry, even though he understood why she had rejected his offer to find prey for her. She has her pride—and I respect her so much for that. But I still wish I could help.

Glancing at the SkyClan fresh-kill pile, Rootpaw realized that although it wasn’t full, there was enough to feed every cat. The SkyClan cats around him in the camp looked far healthier than the ones he had seen at the Gathering.

We’re very lucky here, he thought. I wish I could do something to help the other Clans. Especially ThunderClan. Especially Bristlepaw.

Then an idea crept into Rootpaw’s mind. Spotting Leafstar and Hawkwing standing beside the Tallrock, he padded over to them.

“Greetings, Rootpaw,” Leafstar meowed as he approached.

Hawkwing gave him a friendly nod. “How is your training going?” he asked.

“Okay, I think,” Rootpaw responded, proud that the Clan deputy was his kin and that he had some good news to share with him. “Needlepaw and I learned a new battle move today.”

“Excellent,” Hawkwing purred.

“There’s something I’ve been thinking about . . . ,” Rootpaw began. Now that he was actually standing in front of the Clan leader and her deputy, he was beginning to have doubts about the idea that had seemed so brilliant moments before.

“Spit it out, then,” Hawkwing meowed after an awkward silence of a few heartbeats.

Rootpaw took a deep breath. “I’ve been remembering how welcoming ThunderClan was to me after I fell through the ice. They took care of me and were generous with the prey they shared with me, even though their fresh-kill pile was low.”

“Yes, they were very kind,” Leafstar agreed, her eyes narrowing a little as she gazed at Rootpaw.

“So I thought . . . maybe to thank them for their kindness, I could take Bristlepaw a piece of prey—just one piece, that I catch myself,” he said.

Leafstar’s whiskers twitched disapprovingly, while Hawkwing gave his leader a doubtful glance. “Rootpaw . . . ,” Leafstar began.

“I’d catch it on my own time, not as part of a hunting patrol,” Rootpaw added hastily. “Bristlepaw was so brave, saving me when my own Clanmates couldn’t. . . . I just don’t feel I’ve thanked her properly,” he finished, “especially when ThunderClan was so good to me.”

Rootpaw’s heart was pounding as he waited for his leader’s verdict, but for several moments Leafstar said nothing. Eventually she turned to her deputy. “What do you think, Hawkwing?” she asked.