Finpaw’s fur smoothed and he lifted his chin. “I can do anything I want.”
“Yes!” Twigpaw purred, pleased to see him looking happier.
“Twigpaw!” Leafpool’s mew rang through the forest. “Finpaw!”
Twigpaw’s heart fell. They’d been discovered. She glanced guiltily at Finpaw, then turned to face Leafpool.
The ThunderClan medicine cat was hurrying toward them, swerving between the trees. “What are you two doing out here?” Her voice was hushed, as though she was worried about being overheard. “Get back to camp. Sandynose will be back soon and wondering where Finpaw is. You know how annoyed he was the last time you sneaked out.”
“Why does he care?” Twigpaw bristled with annoyance. “You’d think he’d want Finpaw to be training instead of hanging around camp all the time.”
“He’s worried about him,” Leafpool told her.
Finpaw hopped out of the ditch. “I wish he’d find something else to worry about.”
“Until he does, you’d better do as you’re told.” Leafpool whisked her tail. “Didn’t Leafstar ask you to clean out the warriors’ den?”
Twigpaw’s tail drooped. “But I’ve been doing apprentice duties for moons!”
“I’ll do it.” Finpaw padded to her side. “You’ve spent enough time in camp with me. You should have some fun.”
Twigpaw had been looking forward to a chance to hunt without Sandynose. “But what about you?”
“I can have fun later.”
Leafpool nosed Finpaw toward the camp. “Once the warriors’ den is clean,” she mewed briskly. “The sooner you get the forest smell off your fur, the better. That’s how Sandynose caught you last time.”
Finpaw glanced back at Twigpaw as Leafpool hurried him away.
She watched him go sadly. Hunting would have been more fun with Finpaw. She shook out her fur. There was no point being miserable. One day, she and Finpaw would both be warriors and they could hunt together whenever they liked. Even Sandynose wouldn’t be able to stop them then.
Why was Sandynose such an old badger? He didn’t like anything she did. He’d probably frown if she brought him a mouse.
Small paws skittered over the forest floor. Excitement sparked beneath Twigpaw’s pelt as a squirrel jumped the ditch and shot toward the ThunderClan border.
Twigpaw hared after it. She skimmed the forest floor, zigzagging between the pines. The squirrel was fast, but so was Twigpaw. And the wind was on her side. Her scent streamed out behind her, and the swishing treetops disguised the sound of her paw steps. As the squirrel neared the ThunderClan border, she ran harder. She was closing on it. As it raced across the border, she leaped. Stretching out her front paws, she sailed across the scent line.
Silver fur flashed in front of her face. With a yelp, she crashed into the muscly flank of another cat. She staggered backward and regained her balance. Catching her breath, she blinked at the cat she’d collided with. “Ivypool!”
Her mentor shook out her fur and glanced glumly at the squirrel as it leaped for the trunk of an oak and swarmed up into the branches.
“I’m sorry,” Twigpaw panted. “I chased it across half of SkyClan’s territory. I thought a few more tail-lengths wouldn’t matter.” She glanced apologetically at the border behind her.
Ivypool eyed her warily. For a moment, Twigpaw wondered if she recognized her.
“It’s me,” she mewed. “Twigpaw.”
Ivypool flicked her tail. “I know,” she snapped.
Wasn’t Ivypool pleased to see her? Twigpaw wanted to tell the silver-and-white warrior how much she missed her, but Ivypool was acting strangely. “Is everything okay?”
Ivypool scowled. “Yes. If okay means that the apprentice I spent moons training decides that she doesn’t want to become a ThunderClan warrior and leaves to join another Clan.”
Guilt clawed Twigpaw’s belly. “I had to,” she mewed. “I needed to be with Violetpaw and Hawkwing.”
Ivypool sighed heavily. “I suppose,” she conceded. “But I miss you. And it feels strange to train a cat who leaves to fight for another Clan.”
Twigpaw dipped her head. “I’ll always be grateful for what you taught me.”
Ivypool huffed. “Alderheart said you haven’t gotten your warrior name yet.”
“Leafstar wants me to do some SkyClan training.”
“Isn’t ThunderClan training good enough?” Ivypool sniffed.
“Of course.” Twigpaw’s pelt prickled self-consciously. “But SkyClan cats use different skills.”
“There’s only so many ways to catch a mouse.”
Twigpaw swallowed back a purr. “You sound like Graystripe.”
Ivypool caught her eye, her gaze warming. “I guess I’m getting a little set in my ways.”
“No, you’re not,” Twigpaw reassured her. “How’s Fernsong?”
“Fernsong’s great.” Ivypool purred. “He wants kits. He’s even offered to move into the nursery and raise them.”
“A tom in the nursery?” Twigpaw blinked at her. It wasn’t something she’d ever considered before. “I guess that could work. Fernsong would make a great father.”
“Yes.” Ivypool’s eyes shone.
The affection in Ivypool’s gaze jolted a memory from the back of Twigpaw’s mind. “How’s Dovewing?” she asked warily.
“Why?” Ivypool narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
Twigpaw’s belly tightened. Did Ivypool know about her sister and Tigerheart’s secret meetings?
“What are you hiding?” Ivypool padded closer.
“Nothing.” Twigpaw stared at her paws.
Ivypool’s stare burned her pelt. “I know you well enough to see when something’s bothering you.”
Twigpaw didn’t want to tell Ivypool what she knew. But she couldn’t lie to her former mentor. “I saw her,” she murmured softly.
“Where?” Ivypool flexed her claws.
“Near the ShadowClan border.” Twigpaw avoided Ivypool’s gaze, feeling as guilty as if she’d been meeting the ShadowClan deputy in secret. “She was with Tigerheart.”
Ivypool didn’t respond.
Twigpaw looked at her and saw worry spark in her gaze.
“I knew it!” The white-and-silver warrior suddenly lashed her tail. “I knew she’d been up to something. Did you hear what they were saying?”
“I couldn’t really tell what they were talking about. Tigerheart was worried about ShadowClan,” Twigpaw mumbled. She couldn’t tell Ivypool that the two warriors were in love. “Dovewing seemed upset.”
A growl rumbled in Ivypool’s throat. “Upset? Why does she care what happens in ShadowClan? Her loyalty should be to us.”
Twigpaw squirmed beneath her pelt. “I’m sure it is.”
Ivypool glared at her. “Then why is she meeting Tigerheart in secret?”
“I don’t know.” Twigpaw backed away. She was shocked by the fury in Ivypool’s mew. Does she think my loyalty should still be with ThunderClan? She searched the warrior’s gaze.
“I’m sorry.” Ivypool fluffed out her fur. “It’s not your fault. I shouldn’t be angry with you.”
“I’m sorry I left ThunderClan,” Twigpaw blurted.
Ivypool blinked at her. “I know it was a hard decision to make.”
“Are you worried Dovewing might switch Clans too?”
Ivypool looked away. “She’d never do that. She’s fought too long and risked too much for ThunderClan.”
A meow sounded between the oaks. “Ivypool!”
“That’s Thornclaw,” Ivypool told her.
“I know.” Twigpaw recognized the ThunderClan tom’s mew with a pang.
“I’d better go.” Ivypool dipped her head. “You should head back to your own territory.”