Rippleclaw, a black-and-silver tom, tilted his head. His eyes glittered threateningly. “Did Heatherstar send you?”
“Yes.” Barkface ducked out from behind Talltail. “I’m Barkface of WindClan. I must speak with your medicine cat.”
“I know who you are.” Ottersplash curled her lip. “I’d get back in the river, if I were you.”
“Unless you want to be shredded.” Owlfur stepped forward, his brown-and-white pelt twitching.
“There’s no time for fighting,” Barkface hissed. “One of our kits is dying. I need Brambleberry’s help.”
“A kit?” Ottersplash glanced at Rippleclaw.
Rippleclaw’s tail stilled. “Dying?”
Owlfur showed his teeth. “Why’d you bring a warrior with you?” He padded forward and stopped a whisker from Talltail’s muzzle. Fishy breath clouded from his mouth.
“I’m here to protect him.” Talltail dug his claws among the pebbles. “Would you let your Clanmate travel into enemy territory alone?”
The brown-and-white tom’s eyes gleamed. “Then you admit you’re on enemy territory?”
“Do you think we swam the river without noticing?” Talltail looked at the RiverClan warrior’s sleek pelt. “Not all warriors are half fish.”
“Talltail!” Barkface’s sharp mew cut through the freezing air. “We need their help!”
Talltail dipped his head, suddenly remembering Jake’s gentle respect toward Jay, the old she-cat in Twolegplace. His approach had gotten them the information they wanted. “I’m sorry.” He rounded his eyes. “Please let us see Brambleberry. Hopkit’s life may rest in her paws.”
“Let them see her.” A gruff mew sounded from the reeds and Piketooth slid out. He caught Talltail’s eye, wary and tense. Talltail suddenly wondered if Piketooth’s Clanmates knew about his catch on WindClan territory.
Barkface leaned forward. “If Brambleberry says no, we’ll leave.”
“It’s Hailstar who will decide.” Rippleclaw barged past and slid into the reeds.
“This way.” Piketooth beckoned Talltail forward with a flick of his tail and followed Rippleclaw.
Talltail padded after him. “Stay close to me,” he hissed to Barkface. The reeds were stiff as he pushed his way through. Piketooth’s tail disappeared a few paw steps ahead. Behind him, the stalks rattled as Barkface, Ottersplash, and Owlfur followed. After walking along the river for several long moments, during which Talltail felt as if he was being lashed on both flanks by the springy reeds, they emerged into a clearing. The river lapped at one side, seeping through a thick wall of reeds and silvering the marshy earth. Dens dotted the camp, woven from sticks.
“They look like more like birds’ nests than dens,” Talltail whispered in Barkface’s ear.
“They float if it floods,” Barkface whispered.
Talltail blinked, surprised at the ingenuity of the RiverClan cats. Were they as smart as WindClan?
“Wait.” Rippleclaw nodded to Barkface, then ducked into one of the tangled dens.
RiverClan cats blinked from the edges of the clearing, staring in surprise at their visitors.
“Rainflower! Look!” a russet kit squeaked to a gray she-cat.
“What is it, Oakkit?”
“Intruders!” The kit fluffed out its fur, hissing.
Ottersplash padded across the clearing. “They’ve come for our help.”
Rainflower sniffed. “Why should we help WindClan cats?”
“They say they have a sick kit.” Owlfur prowled beside the reed wall, hackles up.
Rippleclaw reappeared, Hailstar following. The RiverClan leader was round-eyed, his gaze anxious. “You need medicine.”
Barkface hurried forward. “It’s leaf-bare. Our herbs aren’t strong enough. We were hoping Brambleberry would share some sweet-sedge. It’s powerful even in the hardest season.”
Brambleberry’s white face appeared from one of the stick dens. “What’s going on?” She slid out, the black spots on her fur like smudges in snow.
“Brambleberry!” A weak cry sounded from inside the den.
Barkface craned his head, trying to see in. “You sound like you have a sick kit of your own.
“Stormkit.” Brambleberry’s eyes clouded. “He fell.”
“Can I help?” Barkface offered.
“There’s nothing more to be done.” Brambleberry glanced back into the shadows. “Time and care will see him through.” She turned back to Barkface. “Why have you come?”
“Hopkit has an infected paw. The infection’s spreading fast.”
Brambleberry cut him off. “You want sweet-sedge.”
Barkface’s eyes lit. “Can you spare some?”
Brambleberry glanced at her leader. Hailstar dipped his head. “I have some,” Brambleberry mewed, turning back to her den. “Come.”
Talltail watched Barkface disappear into the shadows after the RiverClan medicine cat. He could feel the probing eyes of the RiverClan warriors, hot on his pelt. Shellheart, the dappled-gray deputy, sat on the arching root of a willow, watching through narrowed eyes. Nightsky appeared beside Piketooth. She whispered into her clanmate’s ear, then dipped her head to Talltail. He nodded back. He’d been right to let them cross the border to feed their Clan. Now RiverClan was returning the favor. StarClan willing.
Hailstar lifted his chin. “WindClan has never asked for help before.”
Talltail met his gaze. “WindClan has never needed help before.”
Owlfur’s growl hardened. “But now you do. Has leaf-bare weakened you?”
Talltail’s hackles lifted. Was the RiverClan warrior goading him? He dug his claws deep into the marshy ground. You’re outnumbered, Talltail. Jake’s voice echoed in his mind. Are you really going to start a fight? Warmth stirred in his chest and his fur smoothed. “WindClan is grateful for your kindness.” He bowed his head low to Hailstar.
“No warrior would let a kit die, no matter the Clan.” As Hailstar spoke, Barkface padded from Brambleberry’s den with a thick, white root between his jaws.
“He must swallow the sap!” Brambleberry called after him.
Barkface flicked his tail, his mouth too full to answer.
Hailstar stepped forward. “Ottersplash and Rippleclaw will help you cross the river.”
“We managed to get here alone,” Talltail pointed out.
“You were lucky,” Hailstar meowed grimly. “There are dangerous currents when rain has swollen the waters.”
Talltail pushed back a growl. He hated being treated like a kit. And he suspected that the RiverClan leader was more interested in making sure they left his territory than in keeping them from drowning. But they had been given what they’d come for. That was enough. He paused as Rippleclaw pushed in front of him and led him along a winding trail through the reeds. Barkface trotted after him with Ottersplash at his heels.
At the shore, Rippleclaw stayed close to Barkface as the medicine cat waded into the water. The RiverClan warrior guided Barkface across, boosting him forward with her shoulder.
“I can swim by myself,” Talltail told Ottersplash.
Ottersplash stared at him coldly. “Would you let me run through rabbit tunnels by myself?”
Talltail stiffened. Did RiverClan know about the maze of tunnels beneath WindClan? Of course not. She’s just guessing that we chase rabbits into their burrows.
“Come on, then!” Ottersplash was already padding into the water.
Talltail braced himself as the freezing water lapped over his shoulders. He churned his paws clumsily while beside him, Ottersplash moved through the water like a snake. As he struggled to stay afloat, she glided at his side, hardly ruffling the surface. An eddy tugged him suddenly, spinning him off course. Water dragged at his paws down. The river was trying to swallow him! He thrashed in panic, jerking his head around. Where was Ottersplash? Had the river swallowed her too?