“Thank you, but no.” Mistystar was firm.
“At least stay and eat with us.” Bramblestar glanced at Mosspelt, who had only just taken her first bite of thrush.
All gazes were fixed on Mistystar. Twigpaw felt tightness in her chest and realized that she was holding her breath. She didn’t want RiverClan to leave while tensions were still running high.
After a moment, Mistystar blinked softly. “Thank you, Bramblestar. We will.”
Relieved, Twigpaw waited beside Violetpaw and Hawkwing while Bramblestar led the RiverClan leader to the fresh-kill pile and nosed Cherryfall’s rabbit toward her.
Mistystar pushed it aside and picked out a shrew. “This will be enough.”
When she had left, Twigpaw padded toward the pile. She passed a mouse to Hawkwing and a shrew to Violetpaw before picking a vole for herself.
“Where shall we eat?” Violetpaw glanced nervously around the crowded clearing.
“Over there.” Twigpaw nodded toward an empty spot beside the SkyClan cats.
As Hawkwing and Violetpaw headed away, Ivypool called to her.
“Twigpaw!” Her mentor trotted happily toward her. “I’ve spoken to Bramblestar. We both agree it’s time for your assessment.”
My assessment! Excitement sparked through Twigpaw’s pelt. She’d have her warrior name at last! But the thought seemed to freeze in her mind. She glanced across the clearing to where Violetpaw and Hawkwing were settling down to eat beside SkyClan. Is that what I really want? To become a ThunderClan warrior? Perhaps she should be preparing for a life in SkyClan, as Violetpaw clearly was. After all, that was what her father wanted.
Is ThunderClan really my home now?
CHAPTER 2
Alderheart ran his paw over Tinycloud’s belly, happy to feel the fur now thick and smooth and her kits moving around inside. “They’re stronger and so are you.” He sat back and admired the SkyClan queen as she lay outside the ThunderClan nursery. Like the rest of her Clan, she’d gained weight during her stay in ThunderClan and was looking fitter. Her shoulders no longer stuck up like sparrows’ wings. “Your kits will come soon.”
Leafpool shifted beside him, looking the queen over. “I’m glad they waited until you were strong enough to kit them.”
“I hope they’ll wait until we’ve got our own camp.” Tinycloud’s eyes shone excitedly.
Alderheart purred. For the first time in moons, everything was going well. RiverClan had left three days ago; their camp must almost be rebuilt by now. ShadowClan was surely settling back into their old home. WindClan’s borders were no longer closed, and SkyClan’s warriors were strong enough to hunt and bring back prey.
Some ThunderClan cats were still grouching about the overcrowded camp, but SkyClan would soon have territory of their own. Finally, StarClan’s prophecy would be properly fulfilled: SkyClan would be one of the Clans once more. Alderheart blinked warmly at Tinycloud. “Your kits will be the first SkyClan cats to be born beside the lake.”
Leafpool caught his eye. A warning look. “Come on,” she meowed briskly. “Jayfeather wanted us to help him clear out the herb store.”
Had he said something wrong? “Shouldn’t we discuss which of us is going to help with Tinycloud’s kitting?” He hurried after the light brown tabby medicine cat as she crossed the clearing. “Don’t forget, SkyClan doesn’t have a medicine cat yet. One of us should be with her.”
“We can decide that when the time comes.” Leafpool kept walking.
“But what if she’s in their new camp?” Alderheart protested. “Perhaps I should go with them when they move, until they find their own medicine cat.”
Leafpool stopped outside the medicine den and faced him. “You shouldn’t have told her that her kits would be born beside the lake.”
Alderheart blinked in surprise. “But they will be, won’t they? They’re due any day.”
“We’re not sure yet if SkyClan is going to stay.”
Leafpool’s words hit him like a fierce gust of wind. “What are you talking about?”
“You’ve heard the cats grumbling, haven’t you?” Leafpool lowered her voice, her gaze sweeping around the ThunderClan cats as they milled about the clearing. Molewhisker and Thornclaw were comparing battle moves. Birchfall and Ivypool were sharing a mouse with Fernsong, and Sparkpelt was sitting on Highledge beside Squirrelflight. “I want SkyClan to make their home here as much as you do. But not everyone feels the same way.”
Alderheart was confused. “Cats are just complaining because they have to share their nest and their fresh-kill. Once SkyClan has its own camp, they’ll have nothing to complain about.”
Leafpool leaned closer. “What makes you think cats who don’t like to share their nests will want to share their territory? If SkyClan stays beside the lake, where will they live? They’ll need land, and that land will have to come from the other Clans.”
“So?” Alderheart refused to understand. He wasn’t going to let the selfishness of others change the way he felt. “StarClan wants SkyClan here. They sent a prophecy that led them back to us. Why would any cat think that a piece of territory was more important than the wishes of StarClan?”
“Some cats may find it hard to believe that StarClan wants them to give up land they’ve fought so hard for,” Leafpool warned him.
“No cat thinks land is more important than StarClan!”
“Are you sure about that?” Leafpool’s gaze drifted toward Highledge.
Alderheart, puzzled, looked up to where Squirrelflight and Sparkpelt were talking. “Squirrelflight supported my search for SkyClan.”
“What about Sparkpelt?” Leafpool meowed.
“She came with me on the first quest to find them!”
“But finding is not the same as keeping.”
“What are you trying to say?” Alderheart couldn’t believe his ears. “You think Sparkpelt doesn’t want SkyClan to stay?”
“You’ll have to ask her yourself.” Leafpool shrugged.
As she spoke, Jayfeather appeared at the entrance of the medicine den. “Hurry up, you two! I want to sort the herbs before sunhigh. Leaf-fall won’t wait. If we’re running low, we need to start gathering before cold weather spoils them.”
Leafpool glanced at Alderheart. “My son seems to have forgotten that I’ve been running the medicine den since before he was born.”
Alderheart hardly heard her. He glanced anxiously at Sparkpelt. If she didn’t believe SkyClan belonged beside the lake, who did?
Alderheart rushed to catch up to his littermate. “I hope Twigpaw’s assessment goes well tomorrow,” he said, falling into step beside her as she followed her Clanmates along the shore. “I think she’s nervous.” It was true—Twigpaw had seemed distracted in the days since Ivypool had told her she was going to be assessed. But Alderheart wondered if by bringing up Twigpaw, who had brought SkyClan back to the lake, he might get at Sparkpelt’s feelings on the new Clan.
“She’ll be fine,” Sparkpelt purred. “This time tomorrow, she’ll have her warrior name.”
The moon, huge and yellow, hung in the crow-black sky. A crisp wind gusted from the lake, lifting Alderheart’s fur. The Gathering would start soon. Bramblestar and Squirrelflight led the way to the island. Leafpool followed with Ivypool, while Cherryfall and Molewhisker trailed behind. Thornclaw and Birchfall padded farther up the shore, shadowing the party beside Lilyheart, Honeyfur, and Twigpaw. SkyClan trailed behind, no more than shadows on the shore.