Thunder And Shadow

“Quick, hide!” Ivy pool scuttled under the bramble and dragged Twigpaw after her.

Thorns snagged Twigpaw’s pelt, and she screwed up her eyes as Ivy pool pulled her deeper into the thicket.

She could hear two ShadowClan cats talking as they approached.

A she-cat was purring. “Darktail’s not used to having to organize so many patrols. Did you see him this m orning try ing to decide who to send hunting? He looked like a confused badger.”

Twigpaw stiffened. She recognized that mew. Needletail. She wriggled to the edge of the brambles and peered out.

The silver she-cat was walking beside a one-ey ed tom, looking pleased with herself. “He should appoint a deputy to help him.” She brushed close to the tom. “Som eone like y ou.”

The tom stopped and gazed at Needletail. “You remember what happened the last time I challenged Darktail for leadership.”

“You won’t be challenging him this tim e, Rain,” Needletail m urm ured silkily. “You’ll be offering to help him out.”

Rain’s whiskers twitched with am usem ent. “You should offer to be deputy,” he meowed.

“You’d be good at it.”

As he leaned forward to nuzzle Needletail’s cheek, Twigpaw hauled herself from beneath the brambles. Needletail cared about Violetpaw. She’d help, wouldn’t she?

“Twigpaw!” Ivy pool grabbed for her tail.

Twigpaw tugged it free from her m entor’s paw and burst out in front of Needletail. She shook the prickles from her pelt. “Needletail. You have to help m e!”

Needletail’s eyes widened. “Twigpaw? What are you doing here?”

“I have to speak with Violetpaw.”

“Violetpaw’s in camp.”

“But I have to know if she’s okay.” Twigpaw ignored the one-ey ed tom, who was staring at her in surprise.

Ivy pool slid from beneath the bramble and stood beside her. “We’re sorry to intrude,” she mewed apologetically. “But Twigpaw has been frantic about her sister. We just need to know she’s okay and then we’ll go.”

“Of course she’s okay!” Needletail bristled. “Do you think I’d let any thing happen to her?”

“I have to talk to her.” Twigpaw dug her paws into the leaf-strewn earth. Now that she’d come this far, she was determ ined to see Violetpaw for herself. What if Needletail was ly ing?

Needletail frowned. “I can’t just go fetch her for y ou!”

Twigpaw stared at her pleadingly. “But you used to, remember? When we were kits. You and Alderpaw used to sneak us out so we could see each other. It’s no different from that.”

An impatient growl rum bled in Needletail’s throat.

Twigpaw leaned closer. “If y ou’re scared of Darktail, I understand. I’m happy to go to the camp m y self.”

Rain’s gaze sharpened. “That would be brave.”

Twigpaw shrugged. “I want to see m y sister, that’s all.” Please StarClan. Don’t let them smell my fear-scent!

Rain glanced at Needletail. “You’d better fetch her,” he grunted. “This is the sort of cat who gets other cats into trouble.” He scowled at Ivy pool. “Are you her m entor?”

Ivy pool lifted her m uzzle. “Yes.”

“You shouldn’t have let her come here.”

“That’s like telling m e I shouldn’t let the wind blow through the forest. Som e things you just can’t argue with.”

Needletail flicked her tail crossly. “Wait here.” She turned and raced away.

Rain stay ed where he was, staring at Twigpaw and Ivy pool. He tipped his head. “How was the Gathering?” Am usem ent edged his mew. “Did the other Clans miss us?”

Ivy pool’s pelt ruffled. “Why would we miss rogues at a Gathering?”

“Didn’t Rowanstar tell y ou?” Rain asked innocently. “We’re ShadowClan now. We’re just like y ou.”

Ivy pool flexed her claws. “No, y ou’re not! You m ay have taken over ShadowClan’s camp, but y ou’re still rogues!”

Rain’s whiskers twitched.

Twigpaw could see that he was enj oy ing irritating Ivy pool. “Ignore him.” She sat down, her gaze fixed on the forest where Needletail had disappeared.

Ivy pool shifted uneasily beside her.

Rain stared at them, his gaze cold.

High above them, clouds stretched long paws over the pale blue sky. A breeze stirred the budding leaves. An age seem ed to pass as they waited, but at last Twigpaw heard paw steps. She pricked her ears.

Fam iliar black-and-white fur flashed between the trunks. Violetpaw was running toward them, Needletail at her tail.

“Violetpaw!” Twigpaw rushed to m eet her, startling Rain as she flashed past him. But she soon slithered to a halt, surprised at the anger in Violetpaw’s eyes.

“Why in StarClan did you come here?” Violetpaw was glaring at her. “You could have gotten

Needletail into trouble. Darktail asked her what she was doing back at camp. She had to lie.”

Twigpaw blinked at her sister. Did Violetpaw care more about Needletail getting into trouble than about seeing her? “I could get into trouble too, you know,” she snapped. “We’re not supposed to be here. But I had to find out if you were safe.”

“Of course I’m safe.” Violetpaw glanced at Needletail. “I have friends here.”

Irritation sparked beneath Twigpaw’s pelt. She nudged her sister aside and lowered her voice.