“Wow!” Minty exclaimed, watching Tawnypelt vanish into the bushes. “She’s really fiery! I can see why you don’t get along with ShadowClan.”
“That’s Bramblestar’s sister, Tawnypelt,” Dovewing informed her. “She’s okay.”
Bramblestar was torn between anger and worry for his sister. Things must be really bad in ShadowClan if she’s coming here to ask for help. He knew how proud Tawnypelt was of her adopted Clan. I’m sure Rowanstar knows nothing about this.
“Is everything okay with Tawnypelt?” Dovewing asked him.
Bramblestar hesitated, not sure how much he wanted to give away. “Not really,” he replied at last. “But she’s no worse than the rest of us, struggling to survive the flood.”
Bramblestar led his patrol back to the camp, pausing to pick up Jessy’s thrush on the way. When they reached the tunnel, Frankie headed straight for Millie, who was helping Briarlight with her exercises near the entrance.
“Look what Dovewing and I caught,” he meowed, laying the shrew proudly at Millie’s paws.
“Very good!” Millie’s eyes glowed as she gazed at the kittypet. “You see, it just takes a little while for you to settle in here.”
“And Jessy caught a thrush all by herself,” Minty added as some of the other cats gathered around to look. “She climbed up the tree and leaped through the branches just like a real forest cat!” Minty sounded as pleased as if she had caught the thrush herself.
“Good job,” Squirrelflight mewed, giving the thrush a sniff. “We’ll take you out with the apprentices next time.”
“They’re all doing well,” Dovewing put in. Half joking, she added, “Maybe we should give them some fighting lessons next.”
Jessy and Frankie exchanged a glance. “I’m up for it,” Jessy declared. Frankie looked less certain, but nodded a heartbeat later.
Minty took a step back. “I’ll stick with hunting, if that’s okay.”
Bramblestar went to look for Sandstorm, and found her inside the tunnel, fluffing up the bedding to help it dry out. He remembered she’d been ill; though she wasn’t coughing now, he didn’t like the sound of her rasping breath.
“Did you want something, Bramblestar?” she asked, turning toward him.
Bramblestar paced the tunnel restlessly as he told her about his meeting with Tawnypelt. “What do you think Firestar would have done?” he asked her.
Sandstorm had listened quietly, sitting with her tail wrapped around her paws. “I think you’re asking the wrong question,” she mewed. Her green gaze was fixed on him. “You should be asking yourself what you should do.”
“I don’t know,” Bramblestar confessed. “That’s why I’m asking for your opinion.”
Sandstorm flicked her tail-tip back and forth for a couple of heartbeats, thinking. “You haven’t welcomed Rowanstar formally as ShadowClan’s leader yet,” she pointed out at last. “And there’ll be no more Gatherings until the water goes down. Why not visit him? If his Clan is obviously in trouble, it wouldn’t be too difficult to ask if he wants help. Then he can make the decision whether to accept or not.”
Bramblestar sagged with relief. “You’re right,” he meowed. “Why didn’t I think of that? What kind of leader am I if I have to ask you what to do all the time?”
“You don’t ask me all the time,” Sandstorm mewed briskly. “You’re doing fine. I’m glad Tawnypelt felt that she could come and ask you for help,” she added. “Sometimes Clan boundaries cause more damage than they’re worth.”
The two hunting parties returned at sunhigh. Not that we can see the sun, Bramblestar thought. Sometimes I think we’ll never feel its warmth again. When every cat had finished eating, Squirrelflight began to organize the afternoon patrols.
“I don’t mind going out again,” Jessy offered. “Hunting this morning was fun.”
“I’ll go too,” Frankie mewed.
Bramblestar was glad that the two kittypets were adapting so well, but he could see that they were both tired after the morning’s unaccustomed exercise. “No, you’ve already done your bit,” he meowed. He had been watching the two medicine cats patiently trekking back and forth with mouthfuls of herbs, and now he suggested, “Why don’t you help Jayfeather and Leafpool sort out their supplies?”
“That would be great.” Leafpool padded over to them. “We’re managing to build up a store again, but we lost everything so we had to start over.”
Bramblestar spotted Dovewing talking to Brightheart, who had also been helping the medicine cats. “Do you think you could take Minty with you to look for herbs? It would help her get used to the forest.”
“Sure,” Brightheart responded.
Bramblestar gave Dovewing a grateful nod, impressed by her kindness and her good sense in guessing what would help Minty to feel better about her new surroundings.
Cherryfall and Mousewhisker puffed past him, dragging branches, with Brackenfur and Dustpelt to supervise.
“Careful as you go past the mudfall,” Dustpelt warned. “We spent a lot of time getting it secure, and I don’t want you to dislodge it.”
“We’re being careful,” Cherryfall panted.
“It’ll be fine,” Brackenfur reassured Dustpelt. “Think how much more comfortable the nests will be when we install these windbreaks.”
Bramblestar watched them as they disappeared into the tunnel. He couldn’t help noticing how old Dustpelt and Brackenfur were looking, the fur around their muzzles fading to gray and their movements growing stiffer. I’m glad they have the younger cats to help them.
“No, Purdy, you don’t need to go on patrol.” Squirrelflight’s voice interrupted Bramblestar’s thoughts. “I need you to help look after the sick cats—Briarlight especially.”
Bramblestar purred. I’d be lost without Squirrelflight to keep every cat in line! She has a knack for making them all feel useful and important, even Purdy.
When the sturdy tabby had gone bumbling off into the tunnel, Squirrelflight noticed that Bramblestar was looking at her, and padded across to him. “Do you have any special tasks for today?”
“I’m thinking of going over to ShadowClan to have a word with Rowanstar,” Bramblestar meowed. “Just to see how he’s coping.”
Squirrelflight blinked in surprise. “I don’t think Rowanstar will appreciate another Clan muscling in,” she told him.
“Blackstar was generous to me when I first became Clan leader,” Bramblestar responded. “I’d like to return the favor.” He didn’t tell Squirrelflight about his encounter with Tawnypelt.
Squirrelflight still didn’t look impressed, but she didn’t argue any more. “Then I’ll stay here and keep an eye on the camp,” she mewed.
Bramblestar glanced around to see which cats were free to come with him, and beckoned Leafpool with a wave of his tail. “I’m going to visit ShadowClan,” he informed her. “Now that Jayfeather has some help, I’d like you to come with me.”
“Sure, Bramblestar.”
“Spiderleg, Cinderheart!” Bramblestar called.
The long-legged black warrior came bounding over, while Cinderheart, who had been talking to Lionblaze under a nearby elder bush, followed more slowly, with Lionblaze still at her side.
“Can I come too?” Lionblaze asked when he heard where his Clan leader and the others were going.
Bramblestar shook his head. “I’m not expecting trouble,” he meowed, “so I don’t want to take too many warriors with me. Besides, Lionblaze, you have a habit of bringing trouble to ShadowClan all by yourself.”