Night Whispers

“Exactly,” Jayfeather meowed. Ivypaw’s dream may not have come from any cat in StarClan, but maybe it had its uses after all. “And the forest is full of starving prey who might be grateful for a few juicy stems.”

“Berrynose! Spiderleg!” Brambleclaw summoned the two warriors. “Do you know where Jayfeather’s herb patches are, beside the Twoleg nest?”

“I do,” Spiderleg answered.

“I want them guarded, day and night.”

Jayfeather stepped forward. “No cat or prey must get near them,” he urged. “They’re too precious to lose.”

“Don’t worry, we’ll keep them safe!” Berrynose bounded away.

“I’ll send a relief patrol at sundown,” Brambleclaw called as the two warriors pounded across the clearing.

Jayfeather closed his eyes. The Dark Forest was growing in strength. The cats in StarClan were frightened. And now he didn’t trust his Clanmates. The ground seemed to rock beneath his paws.

“I must stay strong,” he murmured to himself. “I must stay strong.”

Chapter 20

Dovepaw crouched behind a tangle of ivy. She flattened her belly against the snow, keeping low in the gully so that no moon shadow spread out behind her.

Paw steps had nearly reached the top of the gully. Opening her mouth, she tasted the familiar scent. Her belly fluttered. Another tail-length. She held her breath. Almost there.

“Got you!” She shot up the short, steep slope and sent Tigerheart rolling across the forest floor.

“I give up!”

She scrambled off him. “One night you’ll get here first.”

“I thought I was early tonight.” He smoothed his ruffled pelt. “It’s as if you know exactly when I leave camp!”

Dovepaw dropped her gaze. “Yeah, right,” she mumbled. “Like I can hear you creeping out of your nest.” She changed the subject. “I wonder how much longer this snow’s going to last.”

Tigerheart shrugged. “It’s better than rain.”

“But it’s impossible to go anywhere without leaving a trail.”

“A good warrior can follow a trail without snow.”

Dovepaw leaned forward and rubbed her nose against his cheek. “I could find your trail on water,” she murmured.

A purr rumbled in his throat. “I’ve missed you.”

Border scents filled the air around them, ThunderClan mingling with ShadowClan. “Should we go to the abandoned Twoleg nest?” Dovepaw suggested.

“There’s no time tonight.” Tigerheart sighed. “Blackstar’s sending out extra patrols at moonhigh and dawn.”

Dovepaw tipped her head. “Why?”

“We’re hunting for herbs as well as prey.”

“Is Littlecloud worse?”

“Yes.” His belly growled. “And the Clan’s getting hungry.”

Dovepaw pressed her cheek against Tigerheart’s. ThunderClan was lucky that whitecough hadn’t turned to greencough. “I wish I could help.” She pictured Jayfeather’s fat clumps of juicy herbs growing by the Twoleg nest, protected from the ice by heaps of bracken. “But Jayfeather’s made sure no one can take leaves from his herb patch.”

Tigerheart pricked his ears. “Herb patch?”

“The plants he’s been nursing since greenleaf.”

“He’s been growing herbs?”

Dovepaw drew away, surprised. “I thought you knew.” She frowned. “Isn’t that why ShadowClan wanted our territory?”

Tigerheart stared at her. “We never wanted ThunderClan territory.”

“But Ivy—” Dovepaw stopped herself. There was no need for Tigerheart to hear about Ivypaw’s dream. “I thought that’s why we had the battle.”

“It was Firestar who wanted territory,” Tigerheart meowed. “He asked for the clearing back.”

Dovepaw shifted her paws. Only because Ivypaw persuaded him to. She shook out her pelt. She didn’t want to argue with Tigerheart. The battle was over. “Never mind.”

“But Jayfeather has herbs.” Tigerheart leaned closer. “Which herbs?”

“Just some tansy.” The words felt sticky on her tongue. She couldn’t lie to Tigerheart, but it felt disloyal to tell him about Jayfeather’s precious supply. “A bit of catmint.”

“Catmint?” Tigerheart’s eyes shone. “Would he let us have some?”

Dovepaw felt hot. “Leafpool’s asked him to give you some already.”

“And?”

“He said no.”

“But Littlecloud might die!”

“He said we have to look after our own Clan.” Dovepaw wove around Tigerheart, brushing against him. Come on, Tigerheart, let’s have fun! She flicked his nose with her tail. “Let’s see who can climb highest.” She glanced up at the pine beside them, wondering if her claws were strong enough yet to make it up the trunk to the lowest branch. It stuck out high above her head.

“Did you hear me?” Tigerheart snapped. “Littlecloud might die.”

Dovepaw dropped her gaze, her heart sinking. “I could steal some,” she offered. Her belly twisted.

“No.” Tigerheart was firm. “You can’t steal from your own Clan for me.”

Relief swamped her. “I can try and persuade Jayfeather to give you some.”