The Apprentice's Quest

Alderpaw the next morning. Scrambling up, he pushed his way out into the open to see Sandstorm grooming herself at the foot of a beech tree. There was no sign of his other Clanmates.

“It’s so late!” he gasped. “Why did you let me sleep? Where are the others?”

“Keep your fur on,” Sandstorm meowed, licking her paw and drawing it over one ear. “It’s only just after sunrise. The others have gone hunting.”

As she spoke, the fern fronds waved and Cherryfall emerged, carrying a squirrel.

Molewhisker and Sparkpaw followed her, each with a vole.

“Great catch,” Sandstorm commented.

“Let’s eat and be on our way.”

It was comforting to have a full belly when he followed his Clanmates to the edge of the trees and reached the Thunderpath once more.

He was still scared as he crouched at the edge of the hard black path, his fur buffeted as the monsters roared past. But it wasn’t quite as terrifying as the night before.

At least we can see the monsters properly, not just their blazing eyes!

Sandstorm stood in the middle of their line, her head turning to and fro as she waited for a gap between the monsters. “When I say ‘run,’” she mewed, “then run as if the whole of ShadowClan were after you, and don’t stop until you get to the other side.”

It seemed a long time to Alderpaw before the roaring of monsters died away and the last of them dwindled into the distance.

“Now!” Sandstorm exclaimed. “Run!”

Alderpaw leaped forward in massive bounds, his paws barely touching the hard surface of the Thunderpath as he raced toward the trees on the other side, Sparkpaw keeping pace next to him. Then the roar of a monster burst upon Alderpaw’s ears, and he heard Sandstorm shriek, “Faster!”

Glancing over, Alderpaw saw the biggest monster yet bearing down on him, looming over him with its jaws gaping. All his instincts told him to freeze in terror, but Sparkpaw barreled into him, forcing him to keep running.

The monster passed behind them with a blast of wind, and Alderpaw collapsed, panting, on the grass at the far side of the Thunderpath.

“Great StarClan, that was scary!” Sparkpaw exclaimed.

Alderpaw sat up, panting for breath.

“Thanks, Sparkpaw. You saved—”

His sister gave him a hard nudge. “Shut up, stupid furball.”

“We ought to get under cover,” Molewhisker suggested. “The monsters might start throwing things again.”

“Good idea,” Sandstorm agreed.

They trekked through the trees for the rest of the day, as clouds began to gather, casting a gloom over the forest. Wind rustled the upper branches, and a few drops of rain spattered down. Toward evening the sky cleared again, but the air remained chilly. Fluffing up his fur, Alderpaw wished he could look forward to his cozy nest in the apprentices’ den. At least I don’t think we’re being watched anymore.

Maybe we lost the creature, whatever it was, back at the Thunderpath.

Eventually they came to a hollow edged by thick holly bushes. There was a small pool of water at the bottom, and all the cats, sore-pawed by now, limped down the slope and lapped gratefully at the water.

“This is as good a place as any to make camp,” Sandstorm meowed. “Alderpaw, you and I will collect bedding while the rest of you hunt.”

Alderpaw felt a pang of regret that he would never be chosen to join the hunters, but quickly set to work collecting leaves, moss, and ferns to make a nest for his Clanmates to share in the shelter of a bush. It was ready, soft and comfortable, by the time the moon had risen and the others returned with a couple of thrushes and several shrews.

“Good night,” Sparkpaw yawned when she had gulped down her share of the prey. “Maybe we’ll find this shadowy thing tomorrow.”

“Oh, no,” Sandstorm responded sleepily.

“There’s a long way to go yet.”

Alderpaw burrowed down into the nest with Sparkpaw by his side.

He was almost asleep when he heard the crunching of leaves coming from somewhere among the bushes. He sat up, instantly alert, to see that Sandstorm had heard it, too, while the other three cats were still struggling to their paws. As the crunching sound continued, Alderpaw thought that he could distinguish paw steps.

Sandstorm signaled with her tail for the others to stay where they were. “I’ll check it out,” she whispered.

As cautiously as if she were stalking a mouse, Sandstorm crept out of the nest and headed toward the bushes. She had almost reached them when the night air was split by a ferocious growl.

A strong reek flooded over Alderpaw, and he let out a yowl of fear as a shape hurtled out of the bushes and lunged at Sandstorm.

Alderpaw caught the flash of teeth and claws, the gleam of malignant eyes.

“StarClan, no!” Sparkpaw wailed. “I think that’s a fox!”

Chapter 11