The Raging Storm

The ShadowClan deputy narrowed his eyes. “I’m sure Puddleshine can take care of his own wounds.”

“Some are hard to reach,” Alderheart meowed lightly. “Since I’ve come this far, I might as well take a look.”

Cloverfoot and Berryheart looked at Juniperclaw expectantly. The black tom nodded curtly. “Okay.”

“Thanks.” Quickly, Alderheart padded toward the camp. He didn’t want Juniperclaw to change his mind. He glanced back as he neared the bramble wall. Berryheart and Cloverfoot were heading away, but Juniperclaw was still watching him, his eyes slitted.

Alderheart shook out his pelt and ducked into the camp.

Rain drenched the clearing where the trees opened to the sky. Snaketooth and Grassheart huddled outside the nursery. Stonewing was hurrying Cinnamonpaw around the edge of the camp, keeping to the shelter of the bramble wall. Strikestone was carrying a robin toward the warriors’ den. The brown tabby eyed him with surprise. He dropped the robin on the wet ground. “What are you doing here?”

“I’ve come to check on Puddleshine,” Alderheart told him quickly. “I saw Juniperclaw outside. He said it was okay.”

Strikestone nodded. “You’ll probably be welcome there.” He jerked his muzzle toward the medicine den. “Shadowkit’s had another fit.”

Alarm flashed beneath Alderheart’s pelt. He remembered Shadowkit’s last fit and the prophetic dream that had accompanied it. Shadowkit had seen himself drown. And Dovewing had told Alderheart that her kit’s seizures were only getting worse. Could that mean his vision was about to come to pass? Alderheart tried not to think about the flooded ditches so close to the ShadowClan camp as he raced across the clearing and pushed his way into the den.

Puddleshine leaned over a nest at the far end. Tigerstar and Dovewing crouched beside him, their eyes dark with worry. They turned as Alderheart entered.

“Is Shadowkit okay?” Alderheart hurried to the nest and looked in. Shadowkit was limp at the bottom. His pelt was wet where Puddleshine had swabbed him with moss.

“The seizure’s just passed.” Puddleshine met Alderheart’s gaze. The ShadowClan medicine cat looked relieved to see him.

“I brought him here as soon as it started,” Dovewing told him.

“I’m glad I was in camp.” Tigerstar’s pelt was spiked with worry.

“Shadowkit will need thyme for the shock,” Alderheart meowed, but Puddleshine had already turned toward his herb store. He fetched a few sprigs and laid them on the side of the nest as Dovewing took the moss and ran it gently over Shadowkit’s flank.

The kit stirred and opened his eyes. He looked up weakly and tried to purr as he saw Dovewing.

“It’s okay.” She reached her nose to his cheek softly. “You’re safe.”

Puddleshine beckoned Alderheart away. “What do you think? Will he always have these fits?” he whispered.

Alderheart glanced at Dovewing and Tigerstar. They were leaning into the nest, comforting Shadowkit. “I don’t know,” he admitted, his head drooping. “Hopefully, he will grow out of them.”

Puddleshine shifted uneasily. “He told me about his last vision.”

“About the rain?” Alderheart stifled a shiver.

Puddleshine’s gaze was dark. He clearly understood the vision’s deadly meaning. “Do you think it will come true?”

Before Alderheart could answer, Shadowkit called to him weakly from the nest.

Alderheart hurried to answer. “I’m here.”

Relief showed in Shadowkit’s gaze. “I’m glad.” As he struggled to sit up, Dovewing hopped into the nest and tucked him against her flank. “It was the same vision,” he breathed. “Just like before.”

Alderheart swallowed. “Sometimes nightmares come back,” he mewed gently.

He avoided Dovewing’s gaze, but he could tell by the pricking of her pelt that she didn’t think it was a nightmare any more than he did.

Tigerstar puffed out his chest. “It’s just a dream, Shadowkit,” he meowed brightly. “Nothing bad is going to happen.”

“But I’ve had visions before and they’ve come true,” Shadowkit mewed.

“This one won’t,” Tigerstar promised. “I won’t let it.”

Alderheart glanced at the ShadowClan leader and glimpsed dread in his eyes. He changed the subject. “Have you been helping Puddleshine since I’ve been gone?” he asked Shadowkit.

“Yes.” Shadowkit lifted his chin. “Grassheart’s wound is better. She’s back in the warriors’ den now.”

“I’m glad to hear it.”

“Tawnypelt had a bellyache,” Shadowkit told him. “And Scorchfur twisted his paw. And Puddleshine has been collecting fresh herbs and I’ve been helping him sort them.” The kit was brightening quickly. “Puddleshine says I’m more help than a whole patrol of warriors.”

“I expect you are,” Alderheart purred, relieved to see Dovewing relax a little too.

Shadowkit’s ears twitched. “Cloverfoot has been collecting herbs for us. She says she likes to be useful. She even made Scorchfur join her. But Juniperclaw hasn’t come back to help.”

Come back to help? Alderheart stiffened. He didn’t remember Juniperclaw helping in the medicine den while he’d been in the camp. “Did Juniperclaw help before?” he meowed lightly.