Night Whispers

“I think we should just wait and watch.” Jayfeather turned up the slope, flinching from the cutting wind. “I’m going home.” The watery sun had not softened the frost, and the grass crunched beneath his paws.

Lionblaze remained beside the lake. Jayfeather paused, sensing his brother’s struggle to break free from the anxiety that had fixed him at the water’s edge. “Hunt for your Clanmates!” he called over his shoulder. “They’ll be hungry after the battle.”

The pebbles swished as Lionblaze bounded away, and Jayfeather darted over the crest of the slope into the shelter of the trees. As the musty scents of dying foliage touched his nose, memories of the Dark Forest flooded his mind. He couldn’t believe that Tigerstar had found a recruit in ThunderClan. Strange that it should be Ivypaw. Perhaps Dovepaw wasn’t the only one of the sisters with a destiny.

Jayfeather tried to focus on the familiar scents of ThunderClan territory—prey scuttling over frosty bark, birds calling in the branches above—but only sensed fear beating in every tiny heart as leaf-bare tightened its grip on the forest. It was the season of death, and by newleaf cold and hunger would have slain the weakest.

Shivering, he pushed the thought away and hurried down the brambly trail that led toward the hollow. Cold air pooled outside the thorn barrier, but as he pushed through and broke from the tunnel, he felt warmth wash his pelt. His Clanmates were busy.

“We can lift this branch and prop it up with a beech branch,” Leafpool called from the warriors’ den. “If we weave new walls around it, there’ll be room for at least three more nests.”

Jayfeather picked his way through the clutter of twigs piled anew for the warriors’ den.

“Watch out,” Millie warned as he neared the fresh-kill pile. “Birchfall’s digging a hole to preserve prey.” When the earth froze, prey could be kept fresh for days by burying it.

Jayfeather lingered at the edge of the prey-hole. “Do you think this weather’s going to last?” he asked Millie.

“I’m not sure, but it’s best to be safe,” she replied. “We need to preserve as much as we can.”

“Jayfeather!” Bumblestripe yowled from the medicine den.

Jayfeather jerked his head up and felt anxiety flash from Millie. Was Briarlight worse? He raced for the cave, forcing his way through the trailing brambles that veiled the entrance.

Bumblestripe was standing in the middle of the den, his fur scented with bark and damp green leaves. “Look what we’ve brought you,” he announced cheerfully.

Beneath the forest smells, Jayfeather picked up the dusty scent of cobwebs. “I thought something was wrong!”

Millie ran into the den. “Is Briarlight okay?”

“Everything’s fine.” Brightheart padded forward. “Bumblestripe found great clumps of web behind the ivy on the Great Oak.” The one-eyed warrior sounded proud. “He had to climb a long way up to reach it.”

Briarlight fidgeted in her nest. “Isn’t he brave?”

Jayfeather sniffed Brightheart’s pelt, alert for the sour scent of infection. “How are your wounds?”

“A bit sore,” she admitted. “But they were hardly more than scratches. They’ll heal.”

“Make sure you don’t reopen any of the cuts,” Jayfeather warned. “Is your torn ear hurting?” he asked Bumblestripe.

“Stings a bit, but in this weather, everyone’s ear tips are stinging.”

Jayfeather stopped beside Briarlight’s nest and bent to listen to the young cat’s breathing. The roughness had eased. “Make sure you do some exercise today,” he ordered.

“She’s already been to the fresh-kill pile,” Bumblestripe announced.

“Do you want to check these cobwebs?” Brightheart asked Jayfeather. “They’re good and thick.”

“I’m sure they’re fine.” Jayfeather wished his Clanmates’ enthusiasm could brighten his mood. “Brightheart,” he mewed, “would you take moss to the nursery, please? The kits will need fresh bedding.” He felt her stiffen with surprise. “I know it’s an apprentice duty,” he went on apologetically, “but our two apprentices are out training.”

“Of course.” Brightheart headed for the entrance. “I’ll take Bumblestripe with me. After finding cobwebs, he’ll have no trouble sniffing out some moss.”

As they left, Jayfeather turned to Millie. “Birchfall will probably need help with the prey-hole.”

“Are you sure Briarlight’s okay?” Millie pressed.

“She’s better every day.”

“You don’t think it’s too soon to make her do her exercises?” Millie’s tail swished over Briarlight’s flank. “She looks so tired.”

Jayfeather let out a breath slowly. “I’m not making her do more than she can manage.”

“It stops me from getting bored,” Briarlight put in.

Jayfeather sensed uncertainty lingering around Millie. “Go back to work,” he murmured. “Worrying won’t help.”

As the warrior pushed her way out of the den, Briarlight’s nest rustled. “You could have thanked Brightheart and Bumblestripe for the cobwebs,” she scolded him. “They found enough to keep you going till greenleaf.”

The brambles rustled at the den entrance before Jayfeather could reply.

“Jayfeather!” Dovepaw’s fraught mew jangled the air.