Tigerheart’s Shadow

He hadn’t declared himself leader of their tiny Clan, but no one questioned his orders, and it was to Tigerheart they looked to organize the daily hunting and border patrols. Cinnamon had managed to build a small store of herbs, remembering, with the help of Blaze, the sight and scent of the leaves Spiresight and the other healers had used. Luckily, no cat had fallen ill, despite the cold weather. Cinnamon had treated an occasional bellyache and sore throat, but her skills hadn’t been stretched beyond mild ailments.

The cats were rested by the enforced break in their journey, and Tigerheart sensed relief in Dovewing’s gaze as she watched Pouncekit, Lightkit, and Shadowkit play in the shelter of the camp. He’d felt relief too. The long days of walking had been hard on the kits. But as the moon had worn on, impatience had begun to itch beneath his pelt. Rowanstar’s message rang in his mind. Tell Rowanstar I’m sorry it’s taking so long. Had StarClan known the journey would be this long when they’d sent Rowanstar’s words to Spiresight? Would Tigerheart arrive too late to help his Clan? The tug of home grew stronger each day, and he realized that once more he was beginning to feel trapped, worrying more about ShadowClan with each passing sunset.

As Tigerheart reached the camp now, he heard the kits squeaking. His whiskers twitched with pleasure as he glimpsed them over the bracken. Hollowkit and Spirekit were stalking Pouncekit and Lightkit while Sunkit nestled at Berryheart’s belly. Were they old enough to travel yet?

“Watch out!” Pouncekit mewed a warning to Lightkit as Spirekit sprang. Lightkit pretended to struggle to escape as the tiny kit began tugging at her tail. Hollowkit squealed with delight and flung himself at Pouncekit. He reared and hooked his claws into her shoulder, and she wailed dramatically and fell to the ground.

“You got me!” Pouncekit groaned as he clambered onto her flank and stood there triumphantly.

“Tigerheart!” Lightkit’s eyes lit up as she saw her father pad into camp. She pulled free of Spirekit and raced to meet him, sniffing eagerly at the prey he was carrying. “You caught a mouse!” She bounced around him. “Can I have it? I love mouse. It’s my favorite.”

Tigerheart dropped the prey at the edge of the small clearing. “It’s Shadowkit’s favorite too,” he told her. “You’ll have to share.” He glanced around the camp. Ant and Cinnamon were resting in a patch of sunshine that filtered between the branches. Rippletail was mending a hole in the bracken wall, threading brambles through, which Sparrowtail passed over the top. “Where is Shadowkit?” He couldn’t see the gray tom-kit.

“He and Dovewing went out of camp to talk.” Lightkit was sniffing the mouse distractedly.

Hollowkit and Spirekit hurried to sniff it with her.

“It’s all furry.” Spirekit frowned.

Pouncekit padded to join them. “I like the fur,” she mewed. “It’s chewy.”

As Hollowkit wrinkled his nose, Tigerheart peered over the top of the low camp wall. He could see Dovewing and Shadowkit a little way away, their heads bent together as they talked. He nodded to Lightkit. “Why don’t you show Spirekit how to strip out the meat?” he suggested. “But remember to leave some for Shadowkit.”

“Okay.” She dragged the mouse away from the fresh-kill pile and began to nibble through the fur. Spirekit watched her eagerly.

Tigerheart leaped the camp wall and padded toward Dovewing and Shadowkit. What were they talking about so intently?

Dovewing looked up as he neared. She blinked as though she was relieved to see him. “You’re back.” There was worry in her mew.

“Is everything okay?” Tigerheart glanced from Dovewing to Shadowkit. The gray tom’s eyes were round and anxious.

“Shadowkit had a dream,” Dovewing told him.

“A bad one?” Had the kit had a nightmare?

“No.” Dovewing smoothed her tail along Shadowkit’s spine. “Tell Tigerheart what you told me.”

“I know how to get to the lake,” Shadowkit mewed earnestly.

Tigerheart frowned. “Really?” Had the kit been exploring?

“I dreamed it,” Shadowkit explained. “I dreamed about the Twolegplace Spiresight said was at the end of the Thunderpath, and then I saw beyond. There was a valley with birch trees edging a small stretch of water and then a hill rising to moorland.”

Moorland? Tigerheart stiffened. Was Shadowkit talking about WindClan territory? “Did you see beyond the moor?” He leaned closer to Shadowkit.

“The moor stretched over a hilltop, then down to a lake.”

Tigerheart’s throat tightened with excitement. Were they that close to home? “What did the lake look like?”

“There was pine forest on one side, and oak forest, and near a marshy stretch of reeds at the far end, there was an island.”

Tigerheart lifted his gaze to stare at Dovewing. “Our lake,” he breathed. “He saw our lake in a dream.”