“I want two patrols along the new ShadowClan border.” Firestar lifted his chin as he gave the order, but his green eyes were tired. The fur at his throat was still clumped with blood where Russetfur had bitten him.
Toadstep, Icecloud, Cinderheart, and Rosepetal clustered beside the halfrock. Thornclaw, Sandstorm, and Dustpelt sat farther back, while Leafpool and Squirrelflight paced nearby.
“What’s the plan?” Cloudtail joined them, his blue eyes bleary with sleep.
“Two patrols,” Squirrelflight told him.
Firestar went on. “Brambleclaw will lead the lake patrol; Dustpelt will take the other. Thornclaw, Whitewing, and Squirrelflight, go with Brambleclaw.”
Thornclaw dipped his head. Whitewing nodded. Squirrelflight flashed an uncertain look at Brambleclaw, dropping her gaze when he returned it through narrowed eyes.
Firestar pressed on. “Cloudtail, Sorreltail, and Spiderleg, you go with Dustpelt.”
Cloudtail turned at once, fur bristling, and headed for the camp entrance. Sorreltail followed him, her denmates close on her heels. They filed out of camp, tails bushed as though ready for a fight.
“Cinderheart.” Firestar turned his attention to the gray she-cat. “It’s leaf-bare. The Clan needs skilled hunters, so practice stalking with Ivypaw today. I don’t want to let this battle distract our apprentices from their training one moment longer. Lionblaze, do the same with Dovepaw.”
Dovepaw stiffened as Firestar scanned the camp. “Where is Lionblaze?” he said.
Berrynose stepped forward. “He went out with Jayfeather just before dawn.”
Firestar’s eye caught Dovepaw’s. She could tell that he wanted to know if something was wrong. Dovepaw shrugged. She knew no more than he did.
Firestar frowned. “In that case, Dovepaw, join Cinderheart and Ivypaw.” He turned to Berrynose. “Go with them. You can take Lionblaze’s place today.”
Ivypaw leaned closer to Dovepaw. “Great,” she muttered. “Hunting practice
Dovepaw understood her sister’s frustration. They had fought alongside warriors yesterday. Today they were back to being apprentices.
“Come on.” Berrynose led the way to the entrance. As they passed the nursery, Molekit and Cherrykit broke away from Poppyfrost’s side and skipped between his paws, almost tripping him. A loud purr rumbled in Berrynose’s throat. “You’ll be warriors soon enough,” he promised. “And when you are, ShadowClan won’t dare threaten our territory.”
Ivypaw rolled her eyes and whispered to Dovepaw, “Does he have to show off about everything?”
Dovepaw hardly heard her. She was casting her senses after Jayfeather and Lionblaze.
A shove from behind surprised her. “Stop staring into the trees,” Cinderheart chided gently. “Firestar’s right. Hunting is our priority in leaf-bare. I want you to focus.”
Dovepaw dipped her head and followed Berrynose and Ivypaw out of the hollow.
“Bring us back a vole!” Cherrykit called after them.
As they trailed through the forest to the training hollow, Dovepaw was still fretting. Why were Lionblaze and Jayfeather talking about
“Dovepaw.” Berrynose jolted her from her thoughts. “Concentrate!”
They’d reached the hollow and had stopped in the middle of the sandy clearing.
“What did I just say?” Berrynose demanded.
Dovepaw lifted her chin and stared at him blankly, her pelt growing hot.
With a sigh loud enough to scare off any prey in the area, Berrynose began to pace in front of her. “I said that even the most seasoned warrior needs to work on his hunting crouch and keep working on it.” He halted and whisked the cold air with his tail. “Show me yours.”
Dovepaw dropped into a crouch.
“Tuck your haunches in more, or your spring will be weak.” Berrynose nudged her flank with his nose. He straightened her tail with a paw. “Keep it off the ground. And stop twitching. The noise of fur on leaves will alert your prey.”
Dovepaw lowered her chin, holding it stiff and straight.
“Don’t stick your neck so far out,” Berrynose corrected. “You must be coiled like a snake, ready to strike, not stretched flat like a weasel sniffing for birds’ nests.”
Dovepaw dug her claws into the stone-hard ground.
Cinderheart stepped forward. “She looks fine to me.”
“I bet she couldn’t reach that conker,” Ivypaw dared.
“Bet I could!” Dovepaw slowed her breath, focusing on the prickly shell three tail-lengths ahead. She let energy build in her paws, then leaped.
She landed on it squarely. “Ouch!” Its spines jabbed her pads, and she sprang away, fur bristling.
Ivypaw squealed with amusement. “Sorry, Dovepaw! I didn’t really think you’d jump on top of it.”
“Okay, okay!” Dovepaw sat back on her haunches and lapped at her stinging paws. “I’m a mouse-brain.” She couldn’t help purring.
Ivypaw skipped around her. “Even a mouse isn’t that dumb.”