“I’m sorry,” Hawkwing mewed, feeling a pang of guilt that he had been so dismissive of Darktail’s feelings. I still don’t trust him, but that must have been terrible.
“If we had lived in a Clan, my friend might still be alive,” Darktail continued. “You all take care of each other. That’s why
I’m so grateful to SkyClan for taking me in. And especially grateful to you”—he dipped his head respectfully to Hawkwing—“because you spoke up for me when some of the others weren’t too keen on bringing in a rogue. I promise I’ll repay the faith you showed me then.”
Curiosity stirred inside Hawkwing, so that his anger toward the white rogue began to ebb a little. “How do you plan to do that?” he asked.
“I’ve volunteered to lead a new quest,” Darktail replied. “To show that I’m serious about helping SkyClan to find the spark that remains.”
“That’s your plan to fix things?” Hawkwing’s anger surged up again, and he put all the derision he could into the words. “You nearly got us killed on the last quest. Why should we trust you?”
“Because this time I’m putting my pelt in danger,” Darktail replied, an edge to his voice. “If I’m leading the quest, I’ll share in any hazards we face. Besides, I’ve made contact with a friend of mine—a cat named Rain. He’ll come on the quest with us, and give us more guidance.”
Hawkwing wasn’t sure about that. Another rogue? Another cat we’ve never heard of, and shouldn’t trust! But before he could voice a protest, he remembered how he had tried to get Darktail driven out at the Clan meeting. And look where that got me!
He shrugged. “Fine. So go, then.”
Darktail seemed unoffended by Hawkwing’s curt response. “I know that I owe you a debt,” he meowed. “You were kind enough to bring me into the Clan, and then I put you in danger—even though that was the last thing I wanted. But I’m going to make it up to you.”
Yeah, right. Hawkwing flicked his ears. “How?”
“I’m going to go to Leafstar and insist that you’re allowed to come along on this next quest. I’ve talked to Rain,” he went on rapidly, before Hawkwing could respond, “and I think I’ve figured out where my directions went wrong. So now I know where we need to go! And I want you there, Hawkwing, because I think you deserve to be part of the group that finds the spark that remains and dispels the darkness. You should be part of the group that saves SkyClan.”
A mixture of emotions rushed over Hawkwing, like a river in spate that threatened to carry him off his paws. He was annoyed that Darktail had been named leader of a quest. He’s only been here for a couple of heartbeats! But along with that anger came doubt.
Why would Darktail offer to lead us himself if he meant to do us harm?
Even stronger than both these feelings was pride that Darktail would honor him in this way, and vouch for him to his Clan leader, especially after all Hawkwing had said to him at the meeting.
Unsure how to respond, Hawkwing looked toward Echosong for guidance, but the medicine cat was curled up in her nest, letting out gentle snores with her tail over her nose.
“Well, I don’t think you’ll be able to persuade Leafstar,” Hawkwing told Darktail as the deflating thought came to him. I’m sure she is still upset with me. “I’ve been too quick to lose my temper lately. That’s what put me in here,” he added, gesturing toward the pile of herbs with his tail. “When I’m angry, I get hot-headed and make rash decisions. That wouldn’t be good on a quest.”
Darktail huffed out a breath, half contemptuous, half amused.
“I don’t agree. The cat with a temper, the cat who’s the quickest to swipe a claw, is often the cat most likely to survive. Being a bit hot-headed, a bit impulsive, makes you a great asset to your Clan.
You should never forget that, Hawkwing.”
As the white tom spoke, Hawkwing found his feelings, still bruised from his father’s scolding the day before, gradually soothed. Maybe Darktail has a point. And maybe, if I’m allowed to go on this quest, I can prove that I am an asset to my Clan, hot temper and all!
Sunhigh had almost arrived by the time Hawkwing had finished his tasks in the medicine cats’ den. Leaving Echosong still sleeping, he padded out into the camp and headed toward the fresh-kill pile.
He noticed that the hunting patrols had returned, and most of his Clanmates were clustered around the prey.
Hmm… it’s not a massive pile, but it looks as if we’ll all get fed.
Hawkwing had joined the others, and chosen a blackbird for himself, before he spotted a stranger in the camp, a handsome gray tom who was standing beside Darktail.
“This is Rain,” Darktail meowed, dipping his head with the deepest respect to Leafstar and Sharpclaw, who stood in front of him, eyeing the newcomer warily. “He’s been living close by, but he hasn’t tried to cross your borders until now.”
“Just as well,” Sharpclaw growled, sliding out his claws and inspecting Rain through narrowed green eyes.
“He would never do that,” Darktail assured the Clan leader and her deputy. “And I would never even think of bringing a new rogue to stay in SkyClan’s camp. It’s not my place to do that, not without permission.”
“So why is he here?” Leafstar asked, her even tone giving nothing away of how she felt.
“Rain thinks he knows where the Clan cats are living,” Darktail explained. “And he’s willing to come on the quest to help find them.”
“I’m happy to do what I can,” Rain added with a polite nod.
“Then thank you, Rain,” Leafstar mewed, warmth creeping into her voice. “You’re welcome to our camp.”
Hawkwing paused in gulping down his blackbird, wondering whether Darktail had really meant what he had said earlier in the medicine cats’ den. His belly started to churn with anxiety.
“There’s one more thing, Leafstar,” Darktail continued. “I wondered if you would allow Hawkwing to come on this next quest with us.”
“Hawkwing?” Leafstar sounded doubtful. “He’s still being punished for the way he behaved at the meeting.”
“I know.” Darktail twitched his whiskers. “But he’s a good, strong cat, and very brave. There are so many dangers out there, beyond the borders of your territory, that I think it would be a good idea to have a cat with us who doesn’t hesitate to fight.”
“He has a point.” Leafstar leaned across to murmur into
Sharpclaw’s ear.
“It will be for the good of the Clan to let him come,” Darktail went on, obviously encouraged by Leafstar’s comment. “What better way for him to make up for losing his temper at the meeting, than to help his Clan find the spark that remains and dispel the darkness?”
Leafstar glanced around until she spotted Hawkwing, who tried to look as if he hadn’t been listening the whole time. By now he was so excited that his belly was churning even harder, and he was afraid that he might throw up the prey he had just eaten.
Leafstar gazed thoughtfully at Hawkwing for so long that he had to clamp his jaws firmly together to stop himself from telling her to hurry up and decide.
“Very well,” she mewed at last. “I guess Hawkwing can go.”
“Really?” Hawkwing’s father Sharpclaw turned an incredulous look on his Clan leader. “You’re going to reward that hot-headed young mouse-brain for arguing with you in front of the whole