“You’ll be able to climb down far enough to jump into the tree,” Violetpaw called through the rain. She wondered if she was doing the right thing. What if Frecklewish fell?
Nettlesplash edged closer to the end of his branch. “It’s a long jump,” he called, jerking his muzzle toward the gap between Frecklewish’s stone slab and the woven ledge. “We’ll understand if you don’t want to try.”
“But the lake!” Frecklewish stared at Hawkwing. “No. I can’t let you leave without me.”
Violetpaw stared at her through the pouring rain. Was she really going to try? Why did I mention my plan?
Frecklewish faced the woven ledge, her gaze fixed on the narrow struts that fenced it. The top shimmered with raindrops. She drew her hind legs in close, her forepaws curling over the edge of the stone. Her tail waved slowly back and forth as she balanced herself. She lifted her haunches. Violetpaw could see her bunching her muscles, ready to leap.
Suddenly, the clear wall opened behind her. A Twoleg stepped out into the rain, its eyes wide as it stared at Frecklewish.
Frecklewish leaped.
The Twoleg lunged toward her with a howl. As its hands slapped the wall, Frecklewish’s hind paws slipped clumsily.
She’s going to fall! Violetpaw’s heart seemed to jump into her throat as Frecklewish sailed through the air, forepaws stretching.
Violetpaw darted forward, but Hawkwing steadied her with a paw. “Don’t move!” Half-blind with terror, she looked down. The ground seemed to swim far below them. Don’t let her die!
A clang jarred her from her stupor as Frecklewish hit the thin fence of the woven ledge hard. Her forepaws curled over the narrow strut at the top. Her hind paws scrabbled against the slippery bars below. Pelt bristling with terror, she fought to get a grip. Then, with a long, low, grunt, she hauled herself over the top and slithered to safety.
Violetpaw melted against Hawkwing as relief washed through every muscle. “She made it.” Her mew was no more than a breath.
“Quick!” Nettlesplash hurried toward the trunk and began scrambling down the tree. Fidgetpaw raced after him.
Frecklewish was already leaping down the first flight of steps, making the ledge rattle. The Twoleg stared after her for a moment, then turned and raced back into its nest.
“It’s chasing her!” Mintfur stared after the Twoleg as it disappeared inside. She rushed after Nettlesplash.
Violetpaw followed, Hawkwing at her heels. Half jumping, half sliding, she climbed after the SkyClan warriors. She could hear Frecklewish keeping pace with them. The woven ledge rang with her paw steps. Near the bottom of the tree, Nettlesplash bounded nimbly along a long low branch. At the end, he leaned out as Frecklewish landed on the bottom ledge, a tail-length from the branch. She leaped over the enclosing fence, hardly touching it as she launched herself toward the tree.
Nettlesplash reached out a paw and hooked Frecklewish’s pelt, then hauled her the final muzzle-length into the safety of the oak.
Behind her, the Twoleg climbed through a clear wall onto the woven ledge and yelped.
Violetpaw stood frozen with shock beside the trunk.
Mintfur nudged her. “Let’s get out of here.” She bundled Violetpaw onto the branch below.
Violetpaw could see Gravelpaw, Palepaw, Fringepaw, and Nectarpaw staring up, their eyes wide. Rabbitleap and Blossomheart watched, pelts on end. She swung herself around the lowest branch and clung to the trunk. The bark scraped her belly as she dropped like a stone onto the ground. “We’ve got her!” she told the trembling apprentices. They surged past her as Fidgetpaw and Frecklewish scrambled down the trunk.
Violetpaw hung back as the SkyClan cats wound around each other, purring louder than the rain. Hawkwing rubbed his cheek along Frecklewish’s. “It’s good to see you.”
Clattering sounded from the Twoleg hive. Huge paw steps pounded the stone. “Let’s go!” Violetpaw yowled as she spied the Twoleg running toward the tree.
She pelted away, Gravelpaw darting in front of her. Mintfur and Palepaw raced at her side. She glanced back to see Hawkwing, Nettlesplash, and Frecklewish running after her with Rabbitleap and Blossomheart.
Behind them, the Twoleg slowed to a halt, its small eyes staring in surprise.
We did it! Joy surged beneath Violetpaw’s pelt. They had rescued Frecklewish and found the last of SkyClan. In a few days, they’d be home.
CHAPTER 16
Twigpaw squeezed into the warriors’ den and shook the rain from her pelt. She’d lost track of how long it had been raining. Days had passed since the dark clouds had rolled over the forest, and now every den was dripping and every nest was damp. Leafpool fretted over her herb store, worried that her carefully gathered leaves might begin to rot. Hunting patrols brought back soaked prey. Twigpaw wondered how Hawkwing and Violetpaw were managing to stay dry. Surely they’d be back soon? They’d been gone nearly a half-moon.
Macgyver’s mew snatched her from her thoughts. “Have you brought a poultice for my paws?” The black-and-white tom blinked from his nest.
“Leafpool will bring some later,” Twigpaw told him. “Sandynose sent me to groom you.”
Macgyver had lost his grip on a tree trunk the day before and slithered down the wet bark, slicing his pads. He’d landed heavily and sprained his shoulder and now lay in his nest, too stiff to move.
Twigpaw’s nose wrinkled at the smell of him. The dampness had turned his pelt sour, and she didn’t relish the thought of working her tongue through his fur in search of fleas and ticks. He was a Clanmate in need and she didn’t begrudge him. But she felt irritated with Sandynose for giving her the task.
Was he punishing her for something? She’d been trying hard to listen to him during training and follow his instructions carefully, no matter how rabbit-brained they seemed. She hoped that if she worked hard, her SkyClan apprenticeship would end soon.
Macgyver shifted in his nest with a grunt. “I’ve managed to groom my belly and my paws, but I can’t reach my back.” He turned it toward her. “Sorry about the smell.”
Twigpaw padded to his nest. “The whole camp stinks,” she mewed sympathetically. “The dens and nests are so damp, they’re half rotten. It must be terrible being stuck inside.”
“I’d rather have fresh rain in my fur,” Macgyver agreed. “At least I wouldn’t smell like a badger.”
Twigpaw purred as she buried her muzzle in his thick fur and began to root for fleas. She found one and cracked it between her teeth before lapping the area clean.
Macgyver relaxed beneath her tongue. “Feels good,” he meowed gratefully. “That flea has been nibbling me all night.”
Twigpaw worked her way down his spine, nipping out fleas and washing his pelt thoroughly. At the base of his tail, she found a tick. It was fat with blood. She washed around it and leaned back on her haunches. “That tick will need mouse bile,” she told him. “If I pull it, I can’t promise to get it out cleanly. And you don’t want an infection.”
Macgyver lifted an injured paw. “I’d go to Leafpool’s den if it didn’t hurt so much to walk.”
“I’ll fetch some.” Twigpaw got to her paws. She wondered if Finpaw was back from training. Bellaleaf, who had taken over as his mentor in Blossomheart’s absence, had taken him out early. She was glad he was training again, but she missed seeing him around camp so much. She poked her head out of the den. Sandynose, Dewpaw, and Sagenose had returned from hunting. Reedpaw was helping Leafpool pile mud and moss against the walls of the medicine den to keep the rain out. While Sandynose crossed the swollen stream to talk with Leafstar, Dewpaw helped Sagenose push the prey they’d caught closer to the fern wall of the camp. Twigpaw guessed they were hoping to shelter it from the rain. But the ferns were shriveling now, and the rain was still falling. She doubted there was anywhere in camp where fresh-kill could stay dry.