Thunder And Shadow

Alderpaw’s heart quickened. Would the WindClan medicine cat agree to help them?

Leafpool m et his gaze. “ShadowClan is holding Twigpaw hostage. They won’t return her to us until we persuade Onestar to give them lungwort.”

Kestrelflight’s eyes widened. “Did they kidnap her?”

Leafpool sighed. “The silly young cat decided to visit her sister in the m iddle of the night.

They caught her in their camp.”

Alderpaw puffed out his fur. “She was upset about her mother,” he mewed defensively.

Leafpool blinked at him. “Let’s not worry about why she did it. The situation is that she is ShadowClan’s hostage until we give them lungwort.”

Kestrelflight frowned. “I wish I could help.”

“Then help!” Leafpool urged.

“I can’t go against Onestar’s wishes.” Kestrelflight argued.

“Cats are dy ing!” Leafpool thrust her m uzzle closer to his. “You’re a medicine cat. How can y ou sit back and let that happen?”

“Onestar blam es ShadowClan for Furzepelt’s death and for losing a life,” Kestrelflight lowered his gaze.

“You know that’s nonsense!” Leafpool exclaim ed.

Alderpaw could hardly believe his ears. “The rogues killed Furzepelt, not ShadowClan!”

“But ShadowClan hasn’t retaliated,” Kestrelflight argued. “Onestar thinks ShadowClan is defending the rogues.”

“What else can they do?” Leafpool’s tail whisked over the sandy floor of the den. “So many of their apprentices left to live with the rogues. Would Onestar attack his own cats?”

“He would if they betray ed their Clan,” Kestrelflight answered grim ly.

Leafpool flexed her claws. “This isn’t getting us any where. Why should we care who attacks who? We’re medicine cats. Our duty is to heal. We need lungwort, not just to bring Twigpaw home, but because ShadowClan cats will die without it.”

She was staring deep into Kestrelflight’s eyes. Alderpaw willed the WindClan medicine cat to agree.

Kestrelflight’s pelt prickled uneasily. “You will have to ask Onestar.”

Dread dropped like a stone in Alderpaw’s belly. He didn’t want to face the angry WindClan leader. He’d seen him raging at the Gatherings. And if Onestar’s own Clanmates feared him, how would he react to unwelcome visitors?

“Come on.” Kestrelflight slipped past them and nosed his way out of the den.

Alderpaw blinked nervously at Leafpool. “Do you think we’ll be able to persuade him?”

“We have to try.” Leafpool followed Kestrelflight into the clearing.

Belly hollow with fear, Alderpaw hurried after her.

Onestar was pacing the head of the clearing as Alderpaw em erged from the gorse den. The WindClan leader’s furious gaze tracked Leafpool and Kestrelflight as they approached him.

Alderpaw trailed behind, his paws as heavy as stone.

Onestar curled his lip, his gaze flashing toward Alderpaw. “You’ve brought Bramblestar’s kit,” he snarled. “Was Bramblestar too m ouse-hearted to come him self?”

Outrage surged in Alderpaw’s chest. “Nothing scares Bramblestar!”

“Perhaps he’s just too proud.” Scorn laced Onestar’s mew. “I assum e y ou’ve come to beg for lungwort. Has ShadowClan been whining in his ear?”

Alderpaw faced the WindClan leader, try ing to stop his paws from shaking. “ShadowClan is holding Twigpaw hostage until you give them the lungwort.”

He felt Leafpool’s warning gaze flashed toward him. Had he said too much?

Onestar drew him self up, eyes blazing. “Ty pical ShadowClan. If they can’t get what they want fairly, they resort to sly tricks.”

“They’ve promised not to hurt her,” Alderpaw blurted, hoping to sm ooth over his m istake. He didn’t want to make Onestar hate ShadowClan more.

Onestar sniffed. “Then why are you worried? Let her stay with them. She has a sister in their Clan, doesn’t she? Perhaps she’ll enj oy living there.”

Leafpool stepped forward. “Twigpaw is not the issue. We miss her, of course, but if Rowanstar has prom ised not to hurt her, he will not hurt her. He will keep his prom ise.”

Onestar’s ears flattened. “Just as he’s kept his prom ise to the rogues.”

Alderpaw’s tail twitched with anger. Onestar was being so unreasonable! “He’s prom ised nothing to the rogues!”

“Then why are they still here?” Onestar glared at Alderpaw.

Alderpaw groped desperately for a reply, but the WindClan leader went on.

“ShadowClan allowed them to stay near their territory.” His mew rose to an angry y owl.

“They paid for this foolishness by losing som e of their best apprentices. When the so-called ‘special’ kit returned, they took her back in, and now she lives am ong them —giving who knows what inform ation to her rogue friends! They are weak and foolish! They deserve no help. They don’t even deserve the name of Clan cats. They are no more than rogues them selves. Let them keep Twigpaw. Let them die of sickness. I will not be tricked or bullied into helping them. They deserve every thing StarClan has brought upon them.”

Alderpaw stared into Onestar’s wild, blazing eyes. Fear ran beneath his pelt like icy water. He glanced at Leafpool. She was staring in disbelief at the WindClan leader.