“Thanks, Cinderheart,” Briarlight mumbled as she chewed them up. “You know a lot about herbs.”
When the entrance to the camp was in sight, Cinderheart halted. “Lionblaze, let’s stop for a moment.” She angled her ears to where a trickle of water sprang up among some rocks, falling to make a tiny pool. “We’ll all feel better if we have a drink.”
Lionblaze padded over to the water’s edge and slid Briarlight off his back so that she could drink. “Toadstep, Rosepetal,” he meowed when every cat had lapped up a few mouthfuls, “you go back to the camp first. It’ll create more of a fuss if we all arrive together.”
“And there’s no need to mention the dog,” Cinderheart added. “I don’t think it will come back, so there’s no point in scaring every cat.”
“Toadstep,” Lionblaze mewed as the young cats began to move off, “you were very brave today.”
“Thanks, Lionblaze.” The young warrior glowed.
“You learned a good lesson about fighting as a team,” Lionblaze went on. “Remember that no warrior needs to be a hero. The most heroic actions take more than one cat.”
Toadstep nodded earnestly before bounding after Rosepetal and slipping through the thorns.
“Thank StarClan,” Lionblaze muttered to Cinderheart. It was a relief to talk to a cat who understood his fears about others trying to copy his actions. “I think he’s got the point.”
Cinderheart murmured agreement and turned to Briarlight, who was lapping at the little pool again. “What were you doing so far from the camp?” she asked gently.
“I wanted to look for herbs, to help Leafpool and Brightheart while Jayfeather is away.” Briarlight’s fighting spirit flashed in her eyes, and her voice rose to a wail. “I just want to be useful!”
Lionblaze felt a stab of pity in his heart.
“I know I’m not going to get better,” Briarlight went on more quietly, her claws digging into the moss at the edge of the pool. “But I—”
“You don’t know that,” Cinderheart interrupted. “It’s early days yet.”
Briarlight shook her head. “I know. And I have to find a way to live like this, as half a cat.”
“You’re not half a cat!” Bumblestripe protested, drawing his tail-tip down his littermate’s flank. “You’re just…different.”
“Yeah, but not in a good way.” Briarlight’s tone was matter-of-fact. “And I can’t see why the Clan should care for me when I don’t contribute anything. I’m not an elder; I haven’t had a lifetime of hunting and fighting that needs to be rewarded. I’d only just become a warrior!”
“We’ll find a way for you to be useful, I promise,” Cinderheart meowed solemnly. “You are different,” she added with a glance at Lionblaze. “Because you’re more determined and braver than any other cat I know.”
Briarlight’s eyes widened with excitement.
“I can’t promise things will change overnight,” Cinderheart warned, “but I’ll speak to Firestar, and to Jayfeather when he gets back, and they’ll figure out everything that you can do.”
“But no more leaving the camp without any cat knowing,” Lionblaze added.
The young she-cat nodded. “I promise.”
“For now,” Cinderheart mewed, “we’ll just say that you went out a little way. And we won’t mention any scary meetings with dogs! If Millie hears about that, she’ll never let you out of your nest again.”
“Okay,” Briarlight agreed.
“I’ll remind Rosepetal and Toadstep not to say too much,” Lionblaze put in.
“I’m really sorry for taking her out in the first place,” Bumblestripe meowed, giving his sister an affectionate lick on her ear.
“No, you did a good thing,” Lionblaze told him. “You listened to what your sister wanted, when the rest of the Clan tried to decide for her.”
Bumblestripe crouched down beside his littermate and she wrapped her forepaws around his neck. “We’ll get you home now,” he murmured, beginning to drag her in the direction of the hollow.
Lionblaze’s heart ached for the injured she-cat as he watched their slow progress. “That was exactly the right thing to say,” he meowed to Cinderheart. “You’ve given her hope.”
“So did you,” Cinderheart responded. “And I’m glad I didn’t have to see you fight that dog!”
“Thank StarClan it didn’t come to that!” For a heartbeat Lionblaze imagined he could hear the dog barking again, and feel its breath hot on his pelt. “I don’t fight for the fun of it, you know.”
“I’m so glad you don’t,” Cinderheart murmured.
“Well,” Lionblaze meowed awkwardly, “I’d better see if Brambleclaw wants me on patrol.”
“Me too,” Cinderheart agreed.
The gray she-cat stayed near him as they pushed their way through the thorns. Lionblaze stumbled, anxious that their pelts shouldn’t brush against each other. Cinderheart seemed to be squeezing herself into the thorns, as if she was embarrassed, too. Inside the camp, Lionblaze spotted Bumblestripe setting Briarlight down gently just outside the medicine cat’s den, while Millie burst from the warriors’ den and bounded across to her.
“Where have you been?” she demanded, crouching beside Briarlight and covering her with anxious licks.
“I just wanted to go out for a bit,” Briarlight replied. “Honestly, I’m fine.”
Lionblaze exchanged a glance with Cinderheart.
“She’ll be okay,” the gray she-cat mewed.
“Are you sure?”
“I’ll make sure.” Cinderheart’s voice was determined. “She’s my Clanmate. Oh, and Lionblaze,” she added as he headed for the warriors’ den in search of Brambleclaw. “You got something wrong, what you said to Toadstep. To many cats, you are a hero.”
Chapter 13
Dark shapes flitted around Jayfeather, and from far away he could hear the wailing of unseen cats. Who are you? What do you want from me?
But there was no answer, and the mournful sound went on and on. Gradually the roar of the waterfall replaced the distant cries, and Jayfeather became aware of soft whispering, much closer to him. The shadowy shapes faded into blackness as he woke from troubled sleep.
“Don’t worry, Lark.” Jayfeather recognized the voice of Brook’s kit Pine. “He’s blind! He won’t know we’re creeping up on him.”
Oh, won’t he?
Jayfeather tensed his muscles as he detected the pad of tiny paws on the stone floor of the cave, and heard a stifled mrrow of laughter. He waited as their scent grew stronger, and he sensed soft breath riffling the tips of his whiskers.
“Looking for something?” As he spoke, Jayfeather leaped to his paws.
Two high-pitched squeals bounced around the cave. He listened with satisfaction to the sound of paw steps skittering away.
“Mother, that weird cat scared us!”
“He’s going to eat us!”
Jayfeather’s satisfaction faded and his pelt grew hot with embarrassment. They’re only small. They didn’t mean any harm.
“Sorry!” he called out. “I wouldn’t hurt you, kits!”
He could still sense the young cats’ fear, and heard Brook’s gentle voice from the other side of the cave as she soothed them.
“Mouse dung!” he muttered.
“I wouldn’t worry.” Another voice spoke closer to him, and after a heartbeat’s thought Jayfeather recognized the voice of the prey-hunter Screech. “I saw them stalking you. They could do with a few lessons in respect.” Turning away, he added, “It’s hard for them. They’re strong and active, but they’re not allowed outside the cave at all until they become to-bes.”
Jayfeather nodded, reminding himself to apologize to Brook later. He climbed out of the dip in the cave floor where he had slept, and began to groom himself, hissing with annoyance at the downy feathers that clung to his pelt.