Night Whispers

“See you tomorrow,” Hollowpaw whispered before vanishing into shadow.

The trees around Ivypaw melted into ferns, and she found herself curled in her nest. She could hear Dovepaw breathing.

She’s back.

But only in the last few moments. Her breathing was fast, as though she’d just settled down, and the scent of snow was fresh on her pelt. Ivypaw’s nose twitched. There was another scent in Dovepaw’s fur, too. A familiar one. Ivypaw tried to remember what it reminded her of, but her eyes were growing heavy. Exhausted, she slid into sleep.

“What’s this?” Whitewing’s shocked mew woke Ivypaw.

She jerked up her head. “What?”

“Blood!” Her mother’s eyes were round. “Blood in your nest.” The white warrior ducked down to sniff at the moss sticking out among the twigs and gasped. “It’s on you, too! Are you hurt?”

Ivypaw flinched away. “What are you doing in here?”

“The dawn patrol left ages ago, and neither of you was up, so I came in to wake you.”

Dovepaw climbed blearily out of her nest. “I guess we’ve been training hard.”

“Is that why there’s blood in your nest?” Whitewing was staring at Ivypaw, her eyes dark with worry.

The ferns rustled, and Bumblestripe poked his head in. “What’s all the noise?” he demanded.

“Get Jayfeather,” Whitewing ordered. “Ivypaw’s hurt.”

“No!” Ivypaw protested, “I’m fine.” But Bumblestripe had already gone.

Ivypaw felt hot under her fur. No one needed to know about the scratches Thistleclaw had left on her neck. She thought the river had washed them clean, but clearly they’d still been oozing when she’d returned from the Dark Forest. She glanced down at the moss. It was dark where blood had soaked it. Her gaze caught Dovepaw’s.

“It must be a thorn in the moss,” Ivypaw mewed quickly.

Come on, Dovepaw! Back me up.

Dovepaw shrugged. “Yeah, a thorn,” she mewed before pushing her way out of the den.

Thanks a lot! Ivypaw was fuming that Dovepaw had left her to calm down their mother by herself. “Maybe there’s a sharp stone in my nest.”

“Let me look.” Whitewing bundled Ivypaw out of the way and began sifting through the moss with her paws. “I can’t feel anything.”

Jayfeather nosed his way into the den, carrying a folded leaf. Bumblestripe and Cinderheart barged in after. Ivypaw backed away from her nest.

Jayfeather dropped the leaf at her paws and opened it. It was smeared with thick green ointment. “Let me check you over,” he ordered.

Ivypaw shuffled away. “It’s just a scratch.” He knows I visit the Dark Forest. He’ll guess this isn’t a thorn scratch.

Cinderheart was sniffing in Ivypaw’s nest. “All that blood from a thorn?”

“This might hurt a bit.” Jayfeather began smearing thick pulp onto Ivypaw’s scruff.

Please don’t tell. Fear throbbed harder than pain.

Jayfeather sighed. “It’s nothing too serious, but I can smell some infection.” He wiped another pawful of pulp from the leaf wrap. “You should be more careful.”

Ivypaw shrank under her pelt. There was an edge in his mew. He knew exactly where she’d gotten the wound.

“Will she be okay?” Cinderheart fretted.

Whitewing pushed closer. “Has the bleeding stopped?”

Go away! Ivypaw’s ears pounded. The cuts were stinging where Jayfeather was rubbing in ointment. Just leave me alone!

“She’ll live.” Jayfeather sat back on his haunches and refolded the leaf. “Come for fresh ointment tonight.” He picked up the leaf in his teeth and headed out of the den.

As he left, Dovepaw slid back in.

“Have you come to watch, too?” Ivypaw snapped.

Dovepaw leaned past Cinderheart into Ivypaw’s nest, rummaged for a moment, and then sat up. “Is this what you were looking for?” She spat a long thorn onto the ground.

Whitewing pawed it gingerly. “No wonder there was so much blood!”

Cinderheart frowned. “How did that get in there without you noticing?”

Ivypaw felt a flood of warmth for her sister. As Dovepaw stretched forward and sniffed at her wounds, Ivypaw whispered in her ear, “Thank you.”

Dovepaw grunted. “This isn’t over.” She pulled away.

“Come on.” Whitewing flicked Bumblestripe gently with her tail. “Let’s leave Ivypaw to rest.” She guided the young warrior out of the den. Dovepaw followed, her tail flicking as she disappeared through the ferns.

Cinderheart was staring anxiously at Ivypaw.

“What?” Ivypaw snapped.

Cinderheart sighed. “If those scratches are infected already, they must be deep.”

Ivypaw climbed into her nest. All she wanted to do now was sleep.

Cinderheart’s tail twitched. “You must be tired.” She touched Ivypaw’s head with a gentle paw. Ivypaw felt it tremble.