Below Highledge, Squirrelflight was organizing the day’s hunting patrols. Graystripe padded toward the elders’ den, a stiff mouse in his jaws. Brackenfur sat next to Cinderheart and Lionblaze, lifting his face to the sun as though relishing its warmth. SkyClan milled restlessly at the edge of the clearing, their pelts rippling with excitement.
Violetpaw paced around Hawkwing, both cats watching the camp entrance. When the thorn barrier rustled, she whisked her tail. “They’re back!” She raced across the clearing. Hawkwing hung back, but his eyes followed her eagerly.
Alderheart’s paws pricked as Ivypool hurried into camp. Her dark blue eyes were shining with pride. Hope quickened his heart.
Violetpaw skidded to a halt in front of her.
Ivypool purred at the black-and-white apprentice. “She passed.”
Twigpaw padded though the thorn tunnel, fur ruffled and breathless.
“You passed!” Violetpaw hopped around her sister.
Alderheart hurried to congratulate her. “Well done! You deserve it.”
“Thanks.” Twigpaw blinked at him.
Why didn’t she look more excited?
“Let’s go and tell Hawkwing.” Violetpaw nosed Twigpaw across the clearing, but Hawkwing was already hurrying to meet them, his eyes curious and hopeful.
Alderheart turned to Ivypool, worry worming beneath his pelt. “Did she do okay?” He wondered whether her mentor would know why Twigpaw seemed so subdued.
Ivypool’s whiskers twitched happily. “She did brilliantly. I’m so proud of her. She deserves her warrior name.” She headed up the tumble of rocks toward Bramblestar.
Alderheart frowned. Twigpaw was standing quietly while Hawkwing and Violetpaw spoke softly to her. Alderheart wondered if he saw disappointment in Hawkwing’s eyes. Was he still hoping she might join him in SkyClan? But that wouldn’t explain Twigpaw’s lack of excitement. Perhaps she was tired, he reasoned. Or she could be nervous about the ceremony. After all, she would be going through it alone. Most apprentices received their names alongside their denmates, and sat beside them during the all-night vigil that followed.
SkyClan crowded around the entrance, caught in their own excitement as they prepared to leave for their new territory. Fallowfern and Plumwillow flanked Tinycloud protectively while Harrybrook sniffed the air and Rabbitleap paced beside them.
Macgyver flicked his ear nervously. “It may be a long walk to our new home.”
“We’re only crossing the border,” Sandynose reminded him.
Macgyver glanced at Tinycloud. The queen looked exhausted already, as though struggling to carry the weight of her kits. “Let’s hope those kits can wait until we’ve found a good spot for a camp before they decide to join us.”
“They’ve waited this long,” Sparrowpelt meowed proudly. “They can wait another few days.”
Alderheart hurried toward the tabby tom. “When her kitting starts, send someone to fetch me or Leafpool.” He was still worried about SkyClan starting their new life beside the lake without a medicine cat.
“I will,” Sparrowpelt promised.
Leafstar stood beside the camp entrance and lifted her tail. “Are you ready?” She glanced at her Clanmates.
As they nodded, Bramblestar leaped down from Highledge. “Good luck.” He dipped his head to Leafstar. “There will be a ShadowClan patrol at the border to meet you. Would you like an escort?”
“We can manage,” she told him.
Alderheart’s gaze flicked to Twigpaw. She was going to find it hard to say good-bye to her father and sister. He tried to think of words to comfort her, frowning as he realized that she didn’t look sad at all. In fact she looked relieved, as though a weight had dropped from her shoulders.
As he met her gaze, she padded forward. “I have something to say.” Avoiding the eyes of her Clanmates, she looked directly at Bramblestar.
Alderheart felt the chill of the mist reach into his fur. Suddenly he knew what she was going to do. He swallowed, his heart aching.
“Thank you for raising me and training me.” Twigpaw dipped her head to the ThunderClan leader. “I shall always value what I have learned here. But I don’t want to be a ThunderClan warrior. My place is in SkyClan”—she paused to look at Violetpaw and Hawkwing, her eyes glistening with emotion—“with my kin.”
CHAPTER 3
Violetpaw was dreaming. Ferns trembled in a moonlit clearing. Black shadows, soft as fur, hid the forest. She knew this place. It was where Alderheart and Needletail had brought her and Twigpaw to meet when they were kits.
She heard a muffled squeak and the brush of fur against leaves. She purred quietly to herself. Didn’t Twigpaw realize she was making more noise than anything in the forest? Stealthily she crossed the shallow dip in the forest floor, creeping on silent paws toward the ferns.
They quivered as she approached. She pricked her ears and heard her sister breathing. ThunderClan cats are so bad at hide-and-seek. She ducked low. She wasn’t sure she had ever quite fit in at ShadowClan, but they’d taught her how to move as silently as moonlight.
She stopped at the ferns, her heart quickening. She could hear her sister trying hard to swallow a purr and not succeeding. She paused, relishing her triumph. In a moment she’d dive into the thick foliage and give Twigpaw a surprise that would make her squeak out loud.
A rush of gratitude swelled in her chest. Thank you, Needletail, for bringing me here. As she thought of her friend, Violetpaw stiffened. A silver tail was snaking between the trees.
She forgot her game. “Needletail!” She had to catch up to Needletail. It had been so long since she’d seen her. “Wait for me!” Haring into the darkness, she raced after the flash of silver. Needletail kept moving, her pelt flitting like starlight through the shadows. Leaves crunched beneath Violetpaw’s pads. Wind ruffled her ears. “Needletail! Wait!” Why was Needletail running away? “I have to talk to you.” She ran faster, but Needletail kept ahead. The lithe she-cat seemed to be moving effortlessly, while Violetpaw struggled to follow. Brambles snagged her fur. Roots caught her paws. Violetpaw felt her lungs burn with effort. She struggled on, her limbs heavy, the air seeming to thicken around her so that she felt as if she were struggling through water. Needletail kept darting ahead like a fish. “Please! Wait!”
At last, Needletail paused. Violetpaw glimpsed her green eyes as they flashed in the shadows.
“Why chase me now?” Needletail’s mew was cold and mocking. “You made your choice.”
Dread surged through Violetpaw, jolting her awake. “No, I didn’t!”
A voice sounded beside her. “Violetpaw? Are you okay?”
Violetpaw was still half dreaming. Needletail’s scent was heavy on the air. “I never wanted to lose you.”
“Violetpaw. Wake up. You’re dreaming.”
“It was never a choice!” Her own mew surprised her. She lifted her head and opened her eyes. She was in the temporary den she’d made with Hawkwing and Twigpaw. She could feel the warmth of their bodies. Darkness swathed her. It was the middle of the night.
Hawkwing was blinking at her. “You were dreaming.”
She dragged her thoughts from her dream and blinked back at him. Beside them, Twigpaw was snoring, lost in sleep.
Violetpaw realized she was with her whole family. Twigpaw came with us to SkyClan. The thought still surprised her. Twigpaw had always seemed so comfortable in ThunderClan.
“Are you okay?” Concern shadowed Hawkwing’s round eyes. “Was it a bad dream?”