Shattered Sky

“She is not being punished,” Darktail responded. “She is being shown where she’s gone wrong… I am helping her.” Turning back to Needletail, he added, “If you’re not happy with the way I’m leading the Kin, you can leave if you want—just like Dawnpelt did.”

Needletail’s eyes widened and she looked even more terrified. And realization struck Violetpaw like a flash of lightning.

Could it be that Dawnpelt never made it to ThunderClan… because Darktail killed her?

Violetpaw couldn’t hold back a shriek of horror. Instantly Darktail spun around, his eyes slitted and full of rage.

“What, do you want to leave too?” he asked in a soft, menacing voice. “I don’t want any cats here who don’t want to be here.”

“She wants to stay,” Needletail meowed, scrambling up to stand beside Violetpaw. “We both really, really want to stay.”

Violetpaw had never been so scared in her life as when Darktail turned a questioning gaze on her. “I want to stay! I promise!” she assured him, her voice quavering.

Darktail nodded. “That’s good. You have passed my test, Violetpaw. Because of course, I already knew all of this. Did you think Raven would have kept it from me?”

Of course it was Raven! Violetpaw shuddered with horror at the thought that Darktail had been playing with her, as he might have played with a mouse before he killed it.

“As for you,” Darktail went on to Needletail, “because of your betrayal, you must live with our RiverClan prisoners until you earn the right to be one of the Kin again. Roach! Nettle!”

Darktail beckoned with his tail to the two rogues who sat nearest him, squabbling over the remains of a fish. They padded over, and at Darktail’s order grabbed Needletail by her shoulders, one on each side, and began hauling her toward the bramble thicket where the RiverClan prisoners were kept. Needletail struggled for a couple of heartbeats, then let them take her.

“No!” Violetpaw mewed in anguish. Scared and confused, she just wanted to be with her friend. “I’ll go, too!”

“No, no.” Darktail blocked her when she tried to follow, his voice smooth and friendly again. “You’ve proved yourself a good and loyal kit. Not like Needletail—and not like Puddleshine, who gave away herbs that rightfully belonged to his Kin.” He paused, then added, “I said I wouldn’t punish Needletail, and I’m not, but Puddleshine… now he does deserve punishment.”

Darktail stalked off toward the medicine-cat den, and not knowing what else to do, Violetpaw followed close behind.

Oh, StarClan… what have I done?

Chapter 12

“So what’s the problem?” Alderheart asked, emerging from the herb store to greet the gray tabby tom who had just appeared in the medicine cats’ den.

Stormcloud let out a long sigh. “I’m not really sure,” he mewed. “I feel guilty for even being here, when so many warriors are badly wounded.”

“Don’t say that,” Alderheart responded. “Any cat who feels unwell is entitled to come visit the medicine cats. Look what happened to Purdy. If he hadn’t decided to put up with his bellyache because he thought we were too busy, he might still be here telling stories to us.”

Stormcloud nodded sadly. “I really miss Purdy.”

He and Alderheart were alone in the den. Briarlight had dragged herself over to the fresh-kill pile with Jayfeather, while Leafpool was helping Mothwing and Willowshine check on the RiverClan cats who were still in poor shape after the battle. Even with five medicine cats in the camp, their resources were being stretched thin.

There are simply too many cats here, he thought. Even if they were all healthy, they couldn’t possibly be comfortable. And some of the RiverClan cats are so seriously hurt that they need care from sunrise to sunrise.

When RiverClan had first arrived, Squirrelflight had suggested using the abandoned Twoleg nest as an overflow camp.

“We could transfer the worst of the injured over there,” she meowed, “and send Leafpool and Willowshine to live with them. There are herbs growing there, right beside the entrance.”

Alderheart had thought that was a brilliant idea, but Rowanstar had protested.

“There’s no need for that. This is just temporary. ShadowClan and RiverClan will be back in our own territories soon.”

Bramblestar had thought for a few moments, then warily agreed with the ShadowClan leader. Alderheart suspected that he and Rowanstar believed that the Twoleg nest would be vulnerable if the rogues attacked.

They could well be right, but that still leaves us with a camp that is full to bursting.