River Of Fire

“Hi, Alderheart,” Twigpaw mewed. “I have a little time before I have to hunt with Sparkpelt. Is there anything I can do to help you?”

“There certainly is,” Alderheart replied with a welcoming twitch of his whiskers. “I’m just sorting herbs for the sick cats in the apprentices’ den. You can take them over there for me if you like.”

“Sure,” Twigpaw responded.

Although she was happy to help, that wasn’t the only reason Twigpaw was visiting Alderheart. A couple of sunrises had passed since the Gathering, and this was her first opportunity to ask him about the prophecy. The sight of only three leaders at the Gathering had felt so wrong, so strange and frightening.

Shall I tell Alderheart what I saw at the Moonpool? she asked herself. A sick feeling gathered in her belly as she wondered what Alderheart’s reaction would be. He’s a medicine cat. I’m afraid he’d be very angry.

“I know you’re worried that StarClan wants us to have five Clans,” she began at last. “But it looks like ShadowClan isn’t coming back.”

Alderheart looked up from portioning out stems of watermint. “We don’t know that,” he responded. “After all, Sleekwhisker and Yarrowleaf have returned, even if they might not be the shadows the vision spoke of. Besides, StarClan sent us that vision, and so far we’re following their advice. Perhaps we need to look for more signs.”

We could do that until the storm strikes us, Twigpaw thought. “Maybe we should be doing more,” she suggested. “Maybe talk to the ShadowClan cats about rebuilding.”

Alderheart shook his head. “That won’t work. They would just think that bossy ThunderClan was interfering again! Besides, ShadowClan doesn’t have a strong leader. Rowanclaw won’t change his mind, and no other cat has come forward to replace him. Without a strong leader, no Clan can survive.” Sighing, he added, “There’s nothing else we can do now except wait and see.”

When she left the medicine-cat den with the leaf wraps of herbs, Twigpaw felt frustrated. Even though her apprenticeship was going well now, she couldn’t shake off the feeling that she should be doing something really important to show her commitment to ThunderClan. She knew she ought to be going out to hunt with Sparkpelt, but she felt too tense; she was sure that she could never concentrate on finding and stalking prey.

I know I’ll get caught, and Sparkpelt will have me on tick duty for a moon, but I really need to sneak off and find Violetshine. It’s been more than a moon since I left, and the SkyClan warriors left the Gathering before I had a chance to speak with her. She can’t still be angry with me, can she?

As Twigpaw delivered the herbs to the apprentices’ den, her mind was racing ahead of her through the forest. She looked forward to talking to Violetshine about ShadowClan.

After all, she was raised as a ShadowClan cat. It has to mean something to her.

Twigpaw hoped too that together she and her sister might be able to convince one of the other ShadowClan cats to be leader. Surely one of them could manage?

Twigpaw waited at the SkyClan border, shivering in the cold, damp-laden breeze, until she scented an approaching patrol. As they emerged into the open around a bramble thicket, she recognized Sagenose and Harrybrook.

“Hi!” she called out, stepping right up to the border.

The two cats swerved and bounded up to her, both of them gazing at her warily.

“What do you want?” Harrybrook asked.

“I need to talk to Violetshine,” Twigpaw responded. “Will you go and fetch her for me? Please,” she added, as the two SkyClan warriors exchanged a doubtful glance. “It’s really important.”

“I suppose so,” Sagenose meowed after a moment’s pause. “But don’t even think about setting a paw over the border. You’re not a SkyClan cat anymore.”

The two cats swung around and disappeared into the undergrowth. Twigpaw sat down to wait, her ears pricked and her pelt tingling with apprehension. If a ThunderClan patrol came this way while she waited, she would be in terrible trouble, with nothing to show for it.

As Twigpaw waited, her nervousness mounted, until she felt as if she had a whole swarm of bees nesting in her belly. Every rustle in the undergrowth was an approaching patrol of her Clanmates; every scent wafted on the breeze threatened discovery.