Thunder And Shadow

“Can you sm ell them?” Twigkit scanned the shadows, hoping to see Violetkit’s splotchy white fur glowing in the moonlight. “Are you sure we’re meant to m eet them here?”

“That’s what Needlepaw said when I saw her at the border the other day.” Alderpaw leaned forward.

Twigkit glanced through the branches. The moon was high. Why weren’t they here? Worry prickled through her pelt. “Perhaps that owl caught them.”

“Needlepaw could chase off an owl.” Alderpaw was still straining to see across the border.

“What about a fox?” Twigkit began to pace. “May be the rogues attacked the ShadowClan camp. What if Violetkit’s been hurt?”

“It’s more likely that they couldn’t sneak out of camp without being noticed.” Alderpaw reasoned. “I’m sure nothing bad has happened.”

“But what if y ou’re wrong?” Twigkit’s heart quickened. Surely her sister would find a way to m eet her. As fear m ade her thoughts spin, paw steps sounded bey ond the border. Her heart leaped. “Violetkit?”

“Who’s that?” A gruff mew sounded bey ond the brambles crowding the scent line.

Alarm ed, Twigkit hurried to Alderpaw’s side and pressed against him.

“It’s just m e,” he called. “Alderpaw.”

Twigkit could feel his fur spiking anxiously.

A ShadowClan warrior padded from behind the brambles. It was a broad-shouldered tabby tom. A gray tabby she-cat and a white tom followed him.

“Hi, Tigerheart.” Alderpaw dipped his head to the tom. “Cloverfoot, Rippletail.”

Twigkit tasted the air. She hadn’t m et these ShadowClan warriors before. Alderpaw must know them from Gatherings.

Tigerheart was scanning the shadows behind them. “Is Dovewing with y ou?”

“No.” Alderpaw sounded surprised at his question.

Tigerheart shrugged. Was that disappointm ent in his gaze? “What are you doing here?”

“Gathering herbs,” Alderpaw answered a little too quickly.

“At night?” Rippletail padded into the clearing, ears twitching.

“Som e herbs are best gathered after dusk,” Alderpaw told him.

Rippletail looked at Twigkit. “Does ThunderClan often send kits out of camp at night to help medicine cats with their duties?”

Cloverfoot padded around them. “Isn’t that a bit dangerous?”

“She was worried about her littermate,” Alderpaw told the tabby she-cat. “I said she could come in case we bum ped into a ShadowClan patrol.”

Twigkit was im pressed by his story. She alm ost believed it herself.

“We’re lucky we m et y ou,” Alderpaw went on. “Is Violetkit okay?”

“Of course.” Tigerheart pushed between his Clanmates. “Why shouldn’t she be?”

Twigkit lifted her chin. “I was worried the rogues might hurt her.”

Tigerheart flexed his claws. “She has ShadowClan to protect her.”

“Besides,” Rippletail added, “the rogues are no threat.”

Alderpaw stared at the young warrior. “They killed Furzepelt.”

Rippletail huffed. “WindClan started that fight.”

Alderpaw stared at the ShadowClan tom, surprise showing in his face.

Twigkit edged forward. “You’ll protect her, though, won’t y ou?” Didn’t ShadowClan realize how dangerous the rogues were?

“Of course we will,” Tigerheart growled. “It would be easier if she didn’t keep sneaking out of camp with Needlepaw.”

Alderpaw blinked. “She’s been sneaking out of camp?”

Twigkit frowned, confused. She hadn’t seen her sister for over half a moon. Where had

Violetkit been going?

“Tawny pelt caught them the other night,” Tigerheart told Alderpaw. “Rowanstar’s put Needlepaw on elder duty and told Pinenose not to take her eyes off Violetkit for a m om ent.”

Twigkit felt a flicker of relief. At least she knew why her sister hadn’t come to the m eeting. But then her heart sank. That meant that she wouldn’t see her littermate tonight after all! She realized with a j olt that Tigerheart was staring at her.

“Why can’t you and Violetkit stay in camp like norm al kits?” he asked bluntly. “Clan kits are asleep in their nests by moonhigh.”

Twigkit whipped her tail indignantly. “We’re special,” she told him.

Tigerheart snorted. “Let’s wait and see about that.” He turned, nodding to his patrol. Then he leaned toward to Alderpaw. “I hope you find the herbs y ou’re looking for. But I think you should get Twigkit home. It’s going to be a cold night, and her pelt is still only kit fluff.”

Alderpaw dipped his head. “I will,” he prom ised. “She’ll sleep well now that she knows her sister is safe.” He glanced at Twigkit as Tigerheart led his Clanmates back onto ShadowClan territory and disappeared into the darkness.

“That was close,” Alderpaw whispered. “It’s probably a good thing Needlepaw and Violetkit couldn’t come. We’d have been in trouble if the patrol had found us together.”

Twigkit gazed at him sadly. “I guess.” How long would it be before she got another chance to see Violetkit?

Alderpaw must have seen the sadness in her gaze. He touched his m uzzle to her head. “Let’s go home. I’ll speak to Needlepaw as soon as I can and arrange another m eeting.”

“What if Violetkit can never get away?” Twigkit followed Alderpaw as he headed back along the trail.

“I’m sure she will,” Alderpaw prom ised.