Thunder And Shadow

“Don’t be so grouchy,” Leafpool chided. “She’s not doing any harm.”

“I guess I only trip over her three or four tim es a day,” Jayfeather snorted.

Alderpaw’s pelt pricked with irritation. It was alm ost as though Jayfeather enjoyed being the grum piest cat in the Clan. At least Twigkit didn’t seem to have heard him. She was happily crossing the den, hurry ing toward Briarlight with her leaf.

“Get on with your work!” Jayfeather’s ears twitched crossly. Not for the first tim e, Alderpaw wondered if the blind medicine cat could read his thoughts. Guiltily he turned his attention back to the y arrow and coltsfoot.

The trailing brambles at the entrance rustled, distracting him again. Graystripe popped his head through and blinked at Jayfeather. “Jayfeather, Bramblestar wants to see you, Leafpool, and Alderpaw.”

Alderpaw’s heart quickened. Why?

He waited for Jayfeather to speak, but Graystripe went on. “Can I take som e com frey back to the elders’ den?” The gray elder glanced at the herb piles hopefully.

Leafpool tipped her head. “Are your joints aching again?”

“Not m ine,” Graystripe huffed. “Millie’s.”

“Should I come and check on her?” Leafpool was already rolling up a wad of leaves.

“There’s no need. Unless you know a cure for aging.” Graystripe pushed his way into the den.

“Besides, I don’t think you should keep Bramblestar waiting. Rowanstar’s with him.”

Jayfeather pricked his ears. “Why didn’t you tell us?”

“I just did.”

As Graystripe grasped the com frey between his jaws, Jayfeather brushed past him and headed for the entrance.

Alderpaw glanced at Twigkit. Had som ething happened to Violetkit? Was that why the ShadowClan leader had come? “Stay here with Briarlight, okay?”

She nodded.

Alderpaw’s heart was racing. He nosed his way through the brambles after Jayfeather, the sharp sunshine stinging his eyes.

Outside the nursery, Lily heart stretched beside Daisy, soaking up the m eager warmth. There was a chill in the air, but the cliff sheltered the camp from the blustery breeze that was stirring the branches at the top of the hollow. Leafkit, Larkkit, and Honey kit were nosing around the fallen beech, poking their noses through the gaps in the woven walls of the apprentices’ den.

“There’s so much room inside!” Leafkit gasped.

“I want a nest in the m iddle,” Larkkit mewed.

“Sparkpaw’s and Alderpaw’s nests are there already,” Honey kit sighed. “I can see them.”

Leafpool’s mew distracted Alderpaw from their chatter. “I hope the patrols come back soon,” she mewed. “The fresh-kill pile is em pty.”

Alderpaw glanced at the bare patch of earth. Brightheart, Whitewing, and Cloudtail paced beside it. Hadn’t they brought prey back from their patrol? Perhaps they’d met Rowanstar before they had a chance to hunt. They gazed through narrowed eyes at the m uscular ginger tom as he stood beside Bramblestar on the Highledge.

Jayfeather was already beside him, fur pricking along his spine.

Alderpaw followed Leafpool up the tum ble of rocks and stopped.

Bramblestar’s expression was grave. “Littlecloud is dy ing.” He dipped his head to Leafpool.

The two medicine cats had known each other a long tim e.

Leafpool’s eyes darkened. “Is he suffering?”

“Dawnpelt is with him now,” Rowanstar told her. “She’s giving him poppy seeds to ease his pain, but she doesn’t know what else to do.”

Leafpool flicked her tail. “If only you’d chosen a medicine-cat apprentice moons ago,” she fretted. “Littlecloud would have som eone to care for him properly.”

“And ShadowClan wouldn’t be left without a medicine cat,” Jayfeather growled.

Rowanstar’s pelt ruffled. “I didn’t come here to be lectured!”

Bramblestar stepped forward. “He cam e here for our help, Jayfeather,” he said in a warning tone.

Alderpaw watched his father, im pressed by his authority. Bramblestar clearly understood that it would do no good to rub m ouse bile into ShadowClan’s wound. A gentler approach was needed.

Alderpaw stepped forward hesitantly. “Can I help?” he asked softly.

Jayfeather flicked him away with his tail. “You’re not borrowing our apprentice,” he told

Rowanstar tetchily.

Alderpaw bristled. Why not? You’re always complaining I get under your paws.

Rowanstar scowled. “I don’t want an apprentice. Littlecloud needs proper care.”

Alderpaw twitched his tail indignantly.

“I’ll go,” Leafpool offered.

“Thank you.” Rowanstar leaned forward. “Grassheart’s kits are due any day. Tawny pelt, Snowbird, and Dawnpelt will be able to help at her kitting, but it’s Grassheart’s first litter, and I’d prefer to have a medicine cat close by to help if there are problem s.”

Alderpaw shifted his paws. It sounded strange to hear the ShadowClan leader talk with such concern about his Clanmates. After Rowanstar had snatched Violetkit from the Gathering, Alderpaw had decided the ginger tom must have no heart. Hope flickered through his fur. Had he been wrong? Perhaps Violetkit was as safe and loved in ShadowClan as Twigkit was in ThunderClan.