River Of Fire

After Leafpool had spoken, Graystripe and Millie took up Briarlight’s body and carried it out of camp for burial. Grief caught in Alderheart’s throat again as he watched them: this was the traditional task of the Clan elders, but it seemed to hurt so much more since the elders were also Briarlight’s parents.

When they were gone, Alderheart rose to his paws and stumbled back to his den, feeling cold and stiff after the long vigil. He knew there were tasks he should be doing, but he was too exhausted even to remember what they were.

Then Velvet appeared at his shoulder, guiding him toward his nest. “Lie down and sleep,” she mewed, gently pushing him down into the moss and fern. “I’ll watch the den until Leafpool and Jayfeather come back. If any cat needs you, I’ll wake you, but I can take care of any minor ailments or wounds.”

“But I should—” Alderheart began to protest.

Velvet interrupted him by laying her tail across his mouth. “Let me take care of you,” she murmured.

That feels so good, Alderheart thought muzzily as he sank into sleep. Someone to take care of me . . . That hardly ever happens.

The last thing he was aware of was Velvet’s sweet scent wreathing around him.

CHAPTER 17

Violetshine slid through the fern tunnel into the SkyClan camp, a couple of mice dangling from her jaws. Rowanclaw and Macgyver followed her, both of them laden with their own prey. The hunting had been good.

The camp was almost deserted: this was the day it was SkyClan’s turn to go and help RiverClan restore their camp after the fire. The only cat Violetshine could see was Yarrowleaf, curled up asleep on a sunlit rock not far from the nursery.

Something about that looks odd, Violetshine thought as she padded across the camp to deposit her prey on the fresh-kill pile. A moment later, she realized what it was.

Where are Yarrowleaf’s kits?

Uneasiness stirred in Violetshine’s belly. She poked her head inside the nursery to check if the kits were there. Tinycloud and Snowbird were both drowsing in furry heaps with their own kits, but there was no sign of Hopkit or Flaxkit.

Violetshine withdrew again and glanced around, but she still couldn’t see the kits anywhere outside. Oh, StarClan, don’t let them have wandered off!

Rapidly, Violetshine bounded across the camp, leaped the small stream, and jumped up onto the rock where Yarrowleaf was sleeping. She gave the ginger she-cat a sharp prod in the side.

“Yarrowleaf—”

Violetshine broke off. Lying on the rock beside Yarrowleaf was a half-eaten mouse. Tiny black spots were clearly visible in the torn flesh.

Poppy seeds! Violetshine suppressed a shudder. Once, she had tried to drug Darktail and his Kin with poppy seeds, but she had been unaware that Sleekwhisker had watched her do it. Violetshine’s failure had almost led to her death.

And Needletail was killed because of it. . . .

For a few heartbeats Violetshine stood frozen, staring at the seeds. Who could have given the drugged prey to Yarrowleaf? Sleekwhisker and she were often together, but now the yellow she-cat was nowhere in sight. Could she have gotten the idea from Violetshine’s failed attempt to drug Darktail? Violetshine remembered the time she had seen Sleekwhisker heading away from the camp on the day of the storm.

She’s up to something . . . but what? I should have remembered to report her to Leafstar!

Cold fear drenched Violetshine, and she prodded Yarrowleaf again until the she-cat raised her head and gazed at Violetshine with bleary eyes. “What’s the matter?” she asked, her voice slurring.

“Yarrowleaf, where are your kits?” Violetshine demanded urgently.

Yarrowleaf sat up and looked around. Then her eyes suddenly widened with alarm, and she seemed to throw off the worst of the drug.

“My kits!” she yowled in a panic. “Where are my kits?” She sprang to her paws, staggering a little as she spun around, trying to locate the kits. “Hopkit! Flaxkit!”

“Yarrowleaf, listen!” Violetshine meowed. “Was Sleekwhisker here?”

“Yes, we were watching the kits play.” Yarrowleaf looked confused.

“And she brought you this mouse?”

Yarrowleaf nodded. “Are you saying Sleekwhisker took my kits?” she asked. “She would never do that. She’s my friend.”

“Are you sure of that?” Violetshine asked. “Remember how loyal Sleekwhisker was to Darktail? Is it possible she’s working with the remains of his Kin to take revenge on ShadowClan?”

I never trusted Sleekwhisker. She helped kill Needletail. Has she been lying to us all this time?