Tallstar’s Revenge

Doespring stepped forward looking proud and touched her nose to Pigeonpaw’s head. Pigeonpaw plucked excitedly at the ground.

“This is your first apprentice, but I have no doubt you will train him well. Share your spirit and speed with him,” Heatherstar instructed Doespring. The pale brown she-cat purred with delight.

The WindClan leader turned to Sorrelkit. “Sorrelpaw, your mentor will be Stagleap.”

Sorrelpaw’s eyes widened as the broad-shouldered tom padded forward to greet her. Her tail twitched nervously as he touched her head.

“Don’t worry, Sorrelpaw,” Stagleap whispered. “You’ll be a great apprentice. And I promise not to eat you.”

“May you learn boldness and loyalty from him.” Heatherstar’s eyes shone.

“I will!” Sorrelpaw promised.

Heatherstar lifted her head and looked at the medicine den. “Hopkit, come here.”

Hopkit stared back, eyes stretched wide. “Me?”

Heatherstar nodded. She caught Talltail’s eye and gave a tiny flick of her tail-tip, inviting him to join her. Talltail stepped onto the sand, his heart quickening with excitement. Hopkit limped down into the hollow and hobbled toward Heatherstar.

“Welcome. Your apprentice name will be Deadpaw,” Heatherstar announced.

“Deadpaw?” Meadowslip’s gasp rang over the hollow. “Heatherstar, no! You can’t name him because of what’s wrong with him!”

Deadpaw raised his chin. “It’s okay; I don’t mind! I’m going to be a warrior. My paw may be dead, but the rest of me is still alive!”

“Well done, Deadpaw!” Whiteberry rasped.

Hickorynose looked thoughtful. “A name like that could trick our enemies into thinking he can’t fight. You’ll show them, won’t you, Deadpaw?”

The little black tom nodded earnestly, and purrs of approval rippled around the Clan.

Heatherstar went on. “Your mentor will be Talltail.” She beckoned Talltail forward with a nod, but he was already hurrying across the sandy earth. “Share your sense of adventure and courage with him, Talltail.”

Deadpaw pushed up his head to meet Talltail’s muzzle. “I’m so glad it’s you!”

“Deadpaw!”

“Sorrelpaw!”

“Pigeonpaw!”

The Clan lifted their voices, calling the names of the new apprentices.

“I’ll teach you to be a great warrior,” Talltail whispered in Deadpaw’s ear. I’m a mentor! Only a few moons ago he’d been living a rogue’s life far beyond the borders of the Clan. Now he was helping to make WindClan strong. Deadpaw depended on him to learn how to hunt and fight. We’ll show them. Even on three paws, you’ll be able to outfight a ShadowClan warrior! Deadpaw’s purr rumbled beside him.

Talltail looked up, across the top of the heather and beyond the rolling green moor. I wish you could see this, Jake. His old friend would be proud to see how much he had changed. You always said I was a warrior. His heart swelled. Now I truly am.

Chapter 45

“Are you ready?” Barkface’s eyes glowed in starlight as he paused at the entrance to the tunnel. Mothermouth loomed ahead, gaping black in the silver cliff.

Talltail nodded. “I’m ready.”

The journey across the valley had been filled with memories. As he walked the same fields he’d walked so many moons before, Talltail had been swept back to the troubled curiosity of his youth. But now the boundaries that had once made him feel trapped and restless were his to protect and honor. If StarClan accepted him, he would be WindClan’s leader by dawn.

Grief wrenched at his heart with sharp claws. Heatherstar’s last moments had been cruel. Greencough had wracked her body, choking her savagely into an agonizing death.

“Talltail.” She had beckoned him closer as she lay in her nest, heat pulsing from her flanks, her pelt clumped and stinking. Swallowing back sorrow, Talltail had crouched over her.

“Have courage, Talltail,” Heatherstar had croaked. “You followed your heart once and it made you stronger. It forged a bond between you and WindClan that nothing can ever break.” A cough shook her body. She didn’t fight it, too weak to do anything but submit. As it released her, she dragged in a shuddering breath. “Always follow your heart, Talltail, as you did then. Let it guide you in everything you do.” Her chest rattled as she struggled to breathe. “WindClan is yours now.” With a rasp, she stiffened and fell still.

Barkface squeezed past Talltail and nudged Heatherstar gently with his muzzle, straightening her twisted body and curling her tail around her paws so that she looked as though she were comfortably asleep. “Mudclaw!” he called through the entrance. “Tell the Clan it’s time for them to sit in vigil for their leader.” He nosed Talltail to his paws and guided him from the den.

Outside, the dying sun streaked the grass red. A cold wind whistled across the heather. “We should go to the Moonstone so you can receive your lives,” Barkface told him.