The Forgotten Warrior

“There are many ways to fulfill your duty,” Jayfeather murmured.

Cinderheart turned to him; he could feel the force of her gaze. “It’s true, I’m lucky to be here at all!” she burst out. “I know what a debt I owe to my ancestors. But I’m so confused… I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”

“What do you want?” Jayfeather asked quietly.

He felt a small start of surprise from Cinderheart, as if no cat had ever asked her that before.

“I wanted Lionblaze,” she whispered. “But I can’t have him.”

“Oh? Really?” Great StarClan, mouse-brain, he’s been padding after you for moons! “Why not?”

“Because of his destiny,” Cinderheart replied.

Jayfeather gave an awkward wriggle; he wasn’t comfortable discussing another cat’s relationship problems. But he remembered Half Moon, and felt again the piercing pain he had suffered when he realized that he couldn’t stay with her in her long-ago Tribe.

“You have a destiny, too,” he mewed gently. “But that isn’t the whole of who you are. You can still shape your own life.”

Cinderheart was silent for a long time; Jayfeather could sense a tiny seed of hope stirring inside her.

“You have a chance to be happy,” he prompted, “and to make Lionblaze happy, too. Don’t throw that away because you spent too long trying to figure out the right thing to do.”

“Thank you, Jayfeather,” Cinderheart responded with a long sigh.

Together they sat on the bank overlooking the lake; Jayfeather could hear the soft lapping of the water on the pebbly shore. For a few moments he and Cinderheart seemed to be wrapped in a cocoon of peace.

It can’t last, Jayfeather thought. Not in these turbulent times. But I’m glad of it now, that’s for sure.

Chapter 25

Gray light was seeping into the apprentices’ den when Dovewing opened her eyes. Her fur felt ruffled; cold claws probed into her nest, as if she were lying in a draft. In the days since the Gathering the weather had turned colder, and she knew leaf-fall was not far away.

Dovewing wriggled deeper into the moss, trying to escape from the stream of chilly air. Then she realized that something else had woken her. Her senses were always turned toward WindClan, and as she concentrated she picked up a familiar voice.

“Follow me,” Sol was meowing. “Those lazy ThunderClan mange-pelts will still be snoring in their dens.”

The murmuring voices of many cats surrounded him, growling as they braced themselves for battle.

Scrambling out of her den, Dovewing raced across the clearing and up the tumbled rocks. “Firestar!” she gasped, bursting into her leader’s den. “WindClan is heading for the tunnels. The attack is happening now!”

Firestar was curled up on his bedding at the back of the den. As Dovewing spoke, he raised his head, instantly alert, and slipped out past her onto the Highledge.

“Wake up!” he yowled. “Every cat, into the clearing! WindClan is attacking!”

Once he had raised the alarm, he ran down the rockfall into the clearing. Dovewing paused for a moment on the Highledge before she followed him. The moon had set, but a few faint warriors of StarClan still lingered overhead. The trees above the hollow were outlined against a pale sky. Dovewing took in a deep breath of cold dawn air and bounded after her leader.

Warriors were beginning to emerge from their den, vague and clumsy from sleep. Daisy appeared at the entrance to the nursery, then vanished straight back inside. Jayfeather poked his head out from behind the bramble screen of the medicine cat’s den, his ears pricked to hear what was going on.

Dashing back to her own den, Dovewing met Ivypool as she staggered out into the open. Her fur was ragged and there was a pained look in her eyes.

“Are you okay?” Dovewing asked. “Did something happen in the Dark Forest?”

“It’s nothing to worry about,” Ivypool replied, shaking her head to clear it. “I’m a warrior there now. I have to train the others.” Her eyes were haunted and her gaze kept flicking from side to side as if she thought some cat was on her tail. “I’ll be fine,” she insisted. “I can still fight.”

Hollyleaf followed her out of the den, looking brisk and ready for action. She ran into the middle of the clearing to join Firestar and Brambleclaw.

“We will meet the WindClan cats in the tunnels,” Firestar announced as his Clan gathered around him. “We won’t let them set a single paw in ThunderClan territory. As far as I know,” he added, with a glance at Dovewing, “WindClan hasn’t trained to fight in the tunnels.” Dovewing gave him a quick nod. “ThunderClan will have the advantage!”

A yowl of enthusiasm greeted the Clan leader’s words. Every cat was awake now, ready to defend their Clan. Dove-wing spotted Brightheart and Foxleap running through the new battle moves, while the two apprentices bounced up and down with excitement.