Tigerheart’s Shadow

“But we might be wandering forever without a guide.” Cinnamon gazed across the river. “Surely it’s better to travel longer and be sure of getting where we’re going.”

“I think we should keep going this way.” Blaze pointed his muzzle toward the side of the valley where the Thunderpath cut between hills. “Spire said a Twolegplace lies that way and we must travel around it.”

“But where do we head after that?” Tigerheart searched the young tom’s gaze.

Blaze looked at the ground. “Spire didn’t say.”

Tigerheart paused, willing his heart to feel less heavy. “I came past a Twolegplace when I left ShadowClan,” he mewed hopefully. “Maybe this Twolegplace is the same one…”

“I guess we could keep going,” Cinnamon conceded. “If we get lost, we can still retrace our steps to the Silverpath later.”

Cloverfoot’s pelt prickled along her spine. “We could be walking for moons.”

“We’ve traveled so far already.” Dovewing’s green eyes shone in the dying light. “We must be getting closer to the lake. Surely we’ll see it soon.”

Tigerheart glanced around at the patrol. Doubt darkened every gaze. “We’ll follow the route that Spire began,” he meowed firmly. “He would not have set us on this path if he thought we couldn’t reach the end.”

Ant shifted his paws. “Spire would have known we’d find our way.”

Cinnamon and Blaze nodded. Cloverfoot, Berryheart, Sparrowtail, and Rippletail mumbled in reluctant agreement.

Lightkit glanced nervously to where the Thunderpath cut between the hills. “Are we going to follow the monsters to the Twolegplace?”

“No.” Tigerheart nodded to the hill rising beside it. Trees and bushes covered the slope. The ground would be soft underpaw and provide shelter.

Rippletail followed his gaze. “It looks like a good place for prey.”

Tigerheart glanced at Dovewing. “Are the kits okay?” Pouncekit, Lightkit, and Shadowkit were clustered beside her. They looked at him with wide, worried eyes.

“They’re fine, but it’s been a long day,” Dovewing mewed. “We should make camp soon.”

“Once we’re away from the river.” Blaze glanced at the flowing water, fresh pain in his eyes.

“Let’s travel until sunset and then hunt and rest for the night,” Ant suggested.

“Okay.” Stiffening his shoulders, Tigerheart led the party away from the river. With each paw step, his grief at losing Spire deepened, and his regret at ever having doubted him stuck in his belly like a claw trying to rip its way through.

Spire might not have grown up among the Clans, he thought, but if we make it back to the lake, if ShadowClan is restored, then he’ll have done more for our Clan than some of our own warriors.

He pushed on as the slope grew harder, and ducked between swaths of bracken. No cat spoke as they walked. The wind stirred the trees and bushes around them as they headed into thicker vegetation. Soon they were climbing through a stretch of forest. Birds began their evening song, calling from the branches above their heads. The moon rose, burning a patch in the darkening sky, and as they reached a clearing in the trees, Tigerheart stopped.

“Are we going to make camp?” Rippletail stopped beside him.

Tigerheart gazed between the trees. Far below, the wide river reflected moonlight. The image that had burned in his mind since they’d left its banks burned stronger still—Spire lifting Pouncekit to safety, then swaying and disappearing… giving his life for cats he hadn’t known very long, and for a way of life he had never known at all. “We should honor him.”

Rippletail blinked at him in surprise. “What?”

Blaze hurried closer. “Are you talking about Spire?”

“Yes.” Tigerheart watched his kits pad to a halt. They looked tired, but they were safe. “Spire saved Lightkit from the Thundersnake and Pouncekit from the river,” he meowed. “He was as brave as any warrior, and we should honor him as a warrior.”

“How?” Cloverfoot frowned.

Sparrowtail tipped his head. “Should we sit vigil for him tonight?”

“A vigil is not enough to thank him for what he has done.” Tigerheart glanced at his Clanmates. “He was loyal and brave. He should become one of us.”

Rippletail glanced at the stars. “How?”

“Let’s have a warrior naming ceremony for him now and give him a warrior name.”

Blaze pricked his ears. For the first time, grief cleared from his gaze. “A warrior name?”

“But he’s dead,” Cloverfoot pointed out. “It’s too late.”

Tigerheart stepped from the shadow of the trees and let moonlight wash his pelt. “StarClan knew him. They will be watching. They will know, and once he has his warrior name, he’ll be able to walk among them as the warrior he has always been, even though he never had the chance to live as one.”

“But you’re not a leader,” Sparrowtail meowed. “How can you give a cat their warrior name?”

Dovewing padded forward. “Tigerheart is leader of this patrol.”