Another death because of Darktail! If he hadn’t attacked, Snipkit would be tucked up safely in the nursery. She wouldn’t have had to try to cross this angry river in a rainstorm late at night.
Exhausted, the five cats headed into the undergrowth and trampled down a clear space among ferns for a makeshift den.
Echosong and Pebblepaw settled the kits, licking their fur the wrong way to dry them off and make them warm. Hawkwing thought about keeping watch, in case any of Darktail’s rogues should come marauding down the riverbank, but his exhaustion was too strong. Letting himself relax, he fell into a bottomless pit of sleep.
It was still dark when Hawkwing awoke. At first he couldn’t work out what had changed; then he realized that he couldn’t hear the rain drumming on the leaves above his head. There was only the distant roar of the river, and close by a steady drip of raindrops falling from the bushes.
His Clanmates were still asleep, Echosong and Pebblepaw curled around the two kits. Careful not to wake them, Hawkwing rose to his paws and slid out into the open.
I need to think. Somehow we have to find the rest of our Clanmates, and make a plan to take the gorge back.
Sadness overwhelmed Hawkwing as he realized how much had changed. This damp refuge on the riverbank was so different from his nest in the warriors’ den. He couldn’t even begin to imagine where the rest of the Clan might be, or even whether they were still alive.
The faces of his dead Clanmates passed in front of him. His father, Sharpclaw, who had died a hero’s death at the claws of a traitor. Bouncefire, the traitor’s first victim. The elder Patchfoot, always cheerful, always ready with a story for the kits and apprentices. Stormheart, who had almost certainly been killed at the very beginning of the attack.
Probably Snipkit, Hawkwing thought sadly, and probably more, too. I saw cats fall, but I couldn’t tell if they were wounded or dead.
And now every cat is scattered.
He whipped around at a faint sound of movement behind him, then relaxed as he saw Pebblepaw sliding between the ferns to sit at his side. She leaned against him, and Hawkwing was grateful for the warmth she gave.
“I feel so responsible for this,” Hawkwing told her, putting words to his terrible burden of guilt for the first time. “If I hadn’t trusted Darktail, if I hadn’t brought him into SkyClan—”
“You couldn’t have known,” Pebblepaw interrupted, resting her tail-tip on his shoulder.
“But I should have! Sharpclaw had his doubts about him, and I should have listened to him! Great StarClan, I had my own doubts.
If I hadn’t ignored them, none of this would have happened. It’s all my fault.”
“No, it’s not.” Pebblepaw’s warm tongue rasped comfortingly around Hawkwing’s ear. “You’re a very young warrior, Hawkwing.
If Leafstar and the senior warriors hadn’t agreed, Darktail and Rain would never have been allowed in the camp. Every cat made the mistake of trusting them.”
Hawkwing wanted to believe Pebblepaw, but he was finding it hard. The sharp pang of his guilt was too painful.
“There’s something that frightens me,” he confided to her.
“Darktail wanted me to join him and stay in the camp. He thinks we’re alike. What if that’s true?”
Pebblepaw let out a snort of disgust. “How can you believe such a pile of mouse droppings? You’re brave and loyal, Hawkwing, a true SkyClan warrior. Did you fight for your Clan back there?”
“Well… yes,” Hawkwing murmured reluctantly.
“And did it even occur to you to betray them?”
“No!”
“Then what makes you think you’re anything like Darktail?”
Pebblepaw challenged him. “You would never plot against cats who had been kind to you.”
As she spoke, Hawkwing began to feel his burden grow a little lighter. She’s right. Yes, I made mistakes, but I will make up for them. I will be as brave and loyal as Pebblepaw thinks I am, and I’ll protect my Clanmates’ lives with my own.
Nestling closer to Pebblepaw, Hawkwing felt a wave of gratitude to her. Terrible things have happened, but at least she is by my side. I’d like her by my side for always. Looking into her eyes, shining in the darkness, he couldn’t help feeling a tiny sliver of warmth.
Chapter 18
Hawkwing and Pebblepaw drowsed outside the den until the sky began to grow pale with dawn, and Echosong pushed her way into the open.
“We ought to look for the others,” she meowed.
Hawkwing nodded, anxiety for Cherrytail and his sisters pricking at his pads. “And first we have to look for Snipkit.”
Rousing the kits, Hawkwing led the way along the riverbank, heading farther downstream. As the dawn light strengthened, it dazzled off puddles and water droplets hanging from every branch.
The river had grown quieter, winding among the rocks like a glittering snake. The dawn air was fresh and clear; once or twice
Hawkwing’s heart beat faster with hope as he thought that he had picked up a trace of the missing kit’s scent. But each time, the trail petered out, and he realized that he had been wrong. The brilliant morning didn’t reveal any sign of Snipkit.
Curlykit and Fidgetkit grew more and more frantic with every paw step they took.
“We have to find her!” Curlykit meowed. “What are we going to tell our mother and father?”
Hawkwing couldn’t escape a heavy feeling of despair. He was certain in his own mind that they weren’t going to find the little black she-cat. Even if she didn’t drown, she’d be a defenseless kit all on her own. She could have been snatched up by a hawk, or killed by a fox. Firmly he shook off these dark thoughts to focus on the remaining kits.
“When did you last see your parents?” he asked them.
“We were with Birdwing when Leafstar called the retreat,” Fidgetkit explained. “But we lost her in the crowd. We don’t know where she went, or where Sagenose is.”
“We don’t know where any cat is!” Curlykit wailed.
“Well, we’re here,” Pebblepaw mewed comfortingly. “We’ll look after you, and I guess we’ll find your family soon.”
I hope she’s right, Hawkwing thought.
He led the cats farther along the bank, his hope dwindling with every heartbeat. As he was wondering whether to give up and turn back, he heard the rustling of some creature pushing its way toward them through the undergrowth.
“Snipkit?” Fidgetkit mewed eagerly, beginning to hurry toward the sound.
“Wait!” Hawkwing warned him.
The sound suggested a much bigger animal than Snipkit, and a low growl coming from the bushes convinced Hawkwing that whatever was in there, it wasn’t the missing kit. Opening his jaws, he picked up a musky, unpleasant scent.
Hawkwing and Echosong sprang forward, pushing Fidgetkit behind them as the branches parted and a strange black-and-white animal burst into the open, glaring at them from malignant eyes.
“A raccoon!” Pebblepaw exclaimed.
Hawkwing froze, amazed at his first sight of one of the vicious creatures that had attacked his Clanmates while he was away. It was black, white, and gray, with white around its short, pointed muzzle and black rings around its eyes. Its claws were long and flexible, reminding Hawkwing of a Twoleg’s forepaws. He had no doubt about how dangerous it was.
As he and Echosong gazed at it, for a moment too startled to move, the raccoon darted forward toward Echosong. The medicine cat started back, but she didn’t move fast enough. She let out a screech of shock and pain as the raccoon sank its teeth into her shoulder.