The Raging Storm

“I guess.” Cloverfoot tipped her head, as though wondering what Violetshine was getting at.

Tree changed the subject quickly. “How are the cats from the Twolegplace settling in? It must be a big change for them.”

“They love warrior life. Especially Blazepaw. It’s like he was born to be a warrior.” Cloverfoot’s eyes shone as she spoke of him.

“They must find it hard getting used to all the new scents,” Violetshine chimed in. “Border scents, for example. They must be confused by all the scent markers.”

Suspicion flashed in Cloverfoot’s eye. “They seem to do okay.”

Tree scratched his ear nonchalantly. “I was just saying to Violetshine how hard I still find it to spot borders. I nearly ran across this one without noticing it. Fortunately, Violetshine called out to me in time. I know Clan cats take border crossing very seriously.” He met Cloverfoot’s gaze, suddenly earnest. “No ShadowClan cat would want to cross into another Clan’s territory if they didn’t have to, would they?”

“No.” Cloverfoot stared at him, her eyes glittering with sudden distrust. She backed away. “I’d better get back to hunting. I promised Blazepaw I’d bring him a shrew if I could find one.” She turned away and disappeared between the brambles.

Violetshine looked at Tree anxiously. “Did we give too much away?” ShadowClan wasn’t supposed to realize they knew about the border crossing. Had they been too heavy-pawed?

Tree lifted his tail. “I think we gave away just the right amount.” He headed back toward camp. “We know that Tigerstar is a strong leader, and that he has plans for ShadowClan. We had to let him know that we found ShadowClan scent on our land, without directly accusing him of anything. He should know that SkyClan won’t be caught off guard.”

Violetshine hurried after him. “Do you think ShadowClan is a threat?”

Tree hesitated. His silence made her paws prick with foreboding. Then he glanced over his shoulder at her. “I don’t know. But SkyClan must face the future with open eyes.”

CHAPTER 3

Alderheart sat down heavily beside Puddleshine’s nest. Two sunrises had passed since Bramblestar’s patrol had carried the ShadowClan cat to ThunderClan’s medicine den, and he had not improved. He frowned. Puddleshine was sick. Many of his wounds were still infected despite the careful cleaning and the marigold poultices Alderheart had applied day and night. It made no sense.

“I can’t seem to clear the infection,” he murmured.

Puddleshine lifted his head stiffly and blinked at him, his eyes clouded with pain. “You’ve treated my wounds the same way I would have. I don’t know why they’re not healing, either.”

“How is the pain today?”

“The poppy seeds you gave me have eased it a little.”

Alderheart touched his nose to Puddleshine’s ear. Heat pulsed from it. “You’re running a fever too.”

“It must be the infection,” Puddleshine mewed.

“Perhaps you have some other illness that is making you vulnerable to the infection. You smell weird.”

“I felt fine before I got tangled in the silverthorn.” Puddleshine’s eyes darkened. “How could I have been so foolish? I should have stayed clear.”

“There’s no point growling about it.” Alderheart was more concerned with dealing with Puddleshine’s wounds than with worrying how he got them. “Do you have any other symptoms? A sore throat? A bellyache?”

“No.” Puddleshine shifted wearily in his nest. “Only my wounds hurt.”

Alderheart glanced toward the den entrance. He felt out of his depth. He wasn’t used to not knowing the cause of a cat’s sickness. It was no comfort that Leafpool and Jayfeather were baffled too. “Do what you can,” Jayfeather had told him. “You’ll figure something out.” The blind medicine cat was checking on Ivypool’s kits in the nursery now. Leafpool had been out since dawn collecting herbs. Alderheart turned back to Puddleshine. “Can you think of another herb we could try?”

“Frecklewish mentioned wood sorrel at the last Moonpool meeting,” Puddleshine told him. “It’s just starting to sprout now.”

“I don’t know if it grows in ThunderClan territory.”

“There’s some around the ShadowClan border.” Puddleshine winced. “It’s dark green and has a sour smell.”

“I’ll find some. Let’s hope it works.”

As he spoke, voices sounded in the clearing. He pricked his ears. They sounded like ShadowClan. His heart lurched. Tigerstar had told Twigbranch that he’d be sending a patrol to fetch Puddleshine in a few days. Was this it? Alderheart shifted his paws. How would he explain that Puddleshine was in no fit state to travel home? He noticed Puddleshine’s gaze flick anxiously to the medicine-den entrance. “You rest,” Alderheart mewed. “I’ll go and see what’s happening.” He hurried out of the den.

Tawnypelt and Scorchfur stood in the clearing, flanked by Brackenfur and Fernsong.

“We found them waiting on the border,” Fernsong was explaining to his Clanmates, who were watching the ShadowClan cats warily as Bramblestar scrambled down the rock tumble.