Thunder And Shadow

Leafpool sighed. “He tries his best, but half the time he still can’t tell an herb from a weed.”

“But y ou’ve been training him for half a moon!” How much longer would she have to stay?

“He’s young, and I’m not sure he was ever cut out to be a medicine cat. He has no dream s or visions. He say s he wanted to be a warrior like his littermates until Rowanstar told him he would be a medicine cat.”

Worry tightened Alderpaw’s belly. “Do you think ShadowClan has chosen the wrong cat to be their medicine cat?”

“I don’t know if there’s a right cat in the whole of ShadowClan,” Leafpool fretted. “No wonder Littlecloud never chose an apprentice. The whole lot of them are only interested in hunting and fighting.” She shook her head wearily. “It seem s so unfair. StarClan has given us three medicine cats, and ShadowClan only has Puddlepaw.”

Alderpaw gazed at her anxiously. “Will you be coming home soon?”

“Of course.” Leafpool glanced back toward the medicine den as though she was worry ing how Puddlepaw was m anaging without her. “I don’t want to spend leaf-bare in this gloom y place.”

“They’re treating you okay, though, aren’t they?”

“They’re treating me fine.” Leafpool blinked at him reassuringly. “I always have first pick of the fresh-kill pile. Every one is very polite. And I get along fine with Grassheart. Her kits are adorable.”

“What about Violetkit?” Alderpaw knew she was safe from the rogues, but he remembered how upset she’d been when she’d had to leave her sister in the woods. Was she happier now? “Is she okay? Can I go and visit her before I leave? I prom ised Twigkit I’d check on her.”

Leafpool glanced distractedly toward the medicine den. “I don’t see why not. But I can’t come with y ou. I have to help Puddlepaw. He’s probably put the nettles and waterm int in the sam e pile again.”

Pelt ruffling, she turned to go. As she headed toward the den, she turned. “Thanks for coming.

Please tell Jayfeather I’m fine and I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

Alderpaw blinked at her fondly as she disappeared into the den. Then he padded toward the nursery. Beepaw and Strikepaw had finished practicing battle m oves and were watching him through narrowed eyes. Would they question where he was going?

“Alderpaw!” A fam iliar mew sounded from the camp entrance. Needlepaw’s scent reached his nose.

“Hi.” He turned to m eet her, purring.

She was bounding across the clearing.

“Where were y ou?” Alderpaw asked as she slid to a halt beside him.

She stared at him. “What do you mean?”

Does she realize she’s shifting back and forth on her paws, like she’s feeling restless… or guilty? “You weren’t with Tawny pelt, or in camp when we got here.” Alderpaw felt suddenly awkward, as though he was pry ing. “I just wondered where you were.”

“I was in Twolegplace,” she told him quickly. “You know how I like a taste of kitty pet food sometimes.”

Alderpaw blinked at her. Yes. But you’re usually not so quick to admit it. Besides, she sm elled of freshly killed prey. He narrowed his eyes. Why was she acting so strange?

Needlepaw changed the subject. “Yarrowpaw says you came with your Clanmates to hunt for rogues. Did you find any?”

“No.” Alderpaw looked at her. She didn’t seem to be herself. Som ething had ruffled her fur.

He wondered with a purr which part of the warrior code she’d been breaking this tim e. He leaned closer and nudged her teasingly. “What have you been up to?”

Needlepaw bristled. “Nothing!” she snapped. “What’s with all the questions?”

“I’m s-sorry.” Her sudden tem per startled Alderpaw. Sham e surged though him. Had he tried to be too fam iliar? But they were friends, weren’t they? Had she forgotten their j ourney together, or finding the kits? Perhaps she didn’t see him as any thing more than a cat from another Clan.

And y et she had raced over to m eet him. Confused, he glanced toward the nursery. “Can I speak to Violetkit?”

“If you want to.” Needlepaw shrugged and headed toward the prickly entrance.

Alderpaw followed, still not sure what to make of Needlepaw’s mood.

“Violetkit!” Needlepaw called through the opening. “Som eone wants to see y ou.”

The brambles rustled and Violetkit scram bled out. Her eyes lit up as she saw Alderpaw, then scanned around him. “Is Twigkit with y ou?” she asked excitedly.

“She’s not allowed out of camp y et,” Alderpaw rem inded her gently.

“But she cam e—”

Needlepaw nudged the kit play fully. “That’s our secret, remember?”

Violetkit blinked at her guiltily. “Oh, yes! I’m sorry.” She clam ped her jaws shut.

Needlepaw nudged her again with her nose. “You’re such a toad-brain.”

Violetkit nudged her back. “You’re such a toad-brain. You remember when we play ed hide the pinecone and you took a whole day to find it?”

“How could I? You hid it under Kinkfur’s nest!” Needlepaw purred. “That old fleabag was sitting on it like forever!”