Thunder And Shadow

Storm cloud followed, with Bum blestripe, Dovewing, and Cherry fall at his heels. Impatiently Alderpaw trotted after them.

Bramblestar stopped suddenly and lifted his m uzzle. He didn’t need to speak. The others had sm elled the scent too.

“They’ve passed this way.” Storm cloud sniffed a thornbush, his nose wrinkling.

“Were they the sam e ones you fought earlier?” Dovewing asked.

Bramblestar narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. “It’s the sam e scent.”

Bum blestripe sniffed. “All rogues sm ell the sam e to m e.”

Bramblestar looked at him sharply. “You’d better learn to tell the difference. We might be dealing with more of them than we know.”

Dovewing’s eyes widened. “Is it an invasion?”

Cherry fall was sniffing the thornbush now, her pelt rippling with fear. “It’s them, isn’t it?” she gasped. “The ones who drove—”

Alderpaw’s heart lurched. Cherry fall had been on the quest with him. She’d m et the rogues.

And she knew about Sky Clan. Before she could betray the secret to Storm cloud, Bum blestripe, and Dovewing, he interrupted. “They’re the ones we m et on our quest,” he confirm ed, glaring at her meaningfully.

She shifted her paws self-consciously. “Oh,” she mumbled.

Dovewing was still staring at Bramblestar. “Do you know who they are?”

“Alderpaw and the others encountered the sam e rogues on their quest,” Bramblestar adm itted.

Storm cloud was frowning. “Why have they come here?”

Bramblestar padded to a bramble and sniffed it. “I don’t know. Let’s hope they are just passing through.”

We have a mission here.

Alderpaw felt his pelt twitch. He was uncom fortable keeping secrets from his Clanmates.

Paws thrum m ed over the forest floor nearby.

Alderpaw stiffened, his heart quickening. Hackles lifting, he backed closer to Bum blestripe as the patrol bunched together.

Bum blestripe tasted the air. “Is it the rogues?”

Storm cloud j erked his m uzzle toward the pines. Shapes m oved between the trunks.

“No!” Dovewing suddenly hurried toward the border. She looked back at the patrol. “It’s ShadowClan.” Her eyes were bright.

Alderpaw glim psed fam iliar pelts between the trees. Tigerheart was trotting toward them, Stonewing and Juniperpaw beside him. His heart quickened with hope as he saw Tawny pelt at the rear. She was Needlepaw’s m entor. Was Needlepaw with them?

The ShadowClan patrol spread out as they neared the scent line and glared at the ThunderClan cats. Disappointm ent pricked Alderpaw’s belly as he saw that Needlepaw wasn’t one of them.

“What are you doing here?” Tigerheart dem anded.

Dovewing padded toward him. “Tigerheart!” She sounded pleased to see him. “We have news.”

Tigerheart showed his teeth as she stepped over the border.

She stopped, her ears twitching with surprise.

Tawny pelt padded forward and looked at Bramblestar. “What news?” Her nose was twitching.

Distractedly, she sniffed the brambles that straddled the border. “What’s that scent? We’ve been sm elling it ever since we left camp.”

“Rogues,” Bramblestar told her. “That’s why we’ve come. We need to speak to Rowanstar.”

“Rogues? On our land?” Tawny pelt’s tail twitched.

Alderpaw felt a glim m er of relief. Violetkit must be safe if ShadowClan wasn’t even aware of the rogues’ presence.

“I must speak to Rowanstar,” Bramblestar insisted.

Tawny pelt nodded. “Tigerheart, escort them to the camp. I’ll follow this scent trail with Stonewing and Juniperpaw.”

“Be careful,” Bramblestar warned. “These rogues aren’t stray s or loners. They’re dangerous.

If you find them, send for help.” He looked at Juniperpaw. He was lithe, his black pelt showing m uscles beneath, but he was sm all. “Two warriors and an apprentice won’t be enough to fight them.”

Juniperpaw puffed out his pelt. “I’m strong.”

“These rogues are stronger,” Bramblestar told her darkly. He crossed the border, meeting Tigerheart’s gaze. “Lead the way. Rowanstar must be inform ed as soon as possible.”

Tigerheart glanced at Tawny pelt, then nodded. “Follow m e.”

Alderpaw padded beside Bum blestripe as Bramblestar fell into step behind Tigerheart. As leaves turned to pine needles beneath his paws, he glanced back at Tawny pelt, Stonewing, and Juniperpaw. “Should Bramblestar have warned them that the rogues killed Furzepelt and stole one of Onestar’s lives?” he whispered.

Bum blestripe shook his head. “Onestar won’t want the news that he’s lost a life to spread around. Leaders don’t like to appear vulnerable.”

Alderpaw suddenly wondered if his father had ever lost a life. He padded between the pines, recognizing the trail to the camp as they neared.

As Tigerheart led the patrol inside, surprised faces turned to glare at them.

Snowbird showed her teeth. “ThunderClan again?”

Beside her, Scorchfur grunted. “It’s bad enough that one of them has to live with us. The others don’t have to visit.”

Bramblestar kept his gaze on Tigerheart. Alderpaw scanned the camp. Was Needlepaw here?