Happily, she stretched in her nest, pushing against Hazelpaw’s back with her hind paws.
“Get off!” Hazelpaw complained.
“Can’t you smell it?”
Hazelpaw yawned. “Smell what?”
“It’s warmer!” Hollypaw jumped out of her nest.
She ducked out of the den and screwed up her eyes against the light. The frost had gone. The clearing was damp where the ice had melted, the bushes dripping, and sunshine was already filling the camp with pale yellow. At the top of the cliffs, the trees seemed wrapped in a green haze. Newleaf had arrived at last.
Firestorm was grooming Sandstorm below Highledge. His bones looked sharp beneath his pelt as he crouched to lick Sandstorm’s ears, but his tail flicked happily. Icekit and Foxkit squealed with delight as Birchfall and Berrypaw chased them in circles outside the nursery. Ferncloud rested beside Daisy at the den entrance, clearly enjoying the morning’s warmth.
Her eyes were clear, and only a little crust around her nose betrayed that she had been so ill. Poppypaw was on the mend too, recovering in the elders’ nest with Mousefur, though she wouldn’t be well enough to go to the Gathering tonight.
Hollypaw heard paws pounding through the thorn barrier, and Thornclaw charged into camp at the head of a patrol. A mouse dangled from his jaws. Whitewing followed him, carrying a small chaffinch, and Ashfur and Lionpaw came in last, each carrying a vole.
Hollypaw’s eyes grew round. She hadn’t seen so much fresh-kill in ages.
As Thornclaw dropped his catch onto the patch of earth that had been empty for too long, Firestar got to his paws to greet the returning patrol. “It looks like the prey’s running richer already!”
Lionpaw padded excitedly around Ashfur. “There were primroses on the ShadowClan border and buds on the Sky Oak!”
“And prey seemed to be moving in every burrow,” Whitewing added.
Firestar scanned the clearing. “Brambleclaw?”
The deputy came hurrying out of the warriors’ den, Squirrelflight behind him.
“The prey’s running again.” Firestar flicked his tail toward the fresh-kill pile. “Lead another patrol out toward the WindClan border and see what you can catch.”
Brambleclaw’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Berrypaw!” he called to his apprentice. “We’re going hunting.”
Berrypaw stopped chasing the kits.
“Can we come too?” Foxkit begged.
Icekit swiped her brother playfully around the ears. “We’re only kits,” she mewed. “They’ll never let us go with them.”
“But watch this hunting move!” Foxkit crouched down, sticking his tail in the air and wiggling his haunches. He lunged forward and landed on a leaf, pinning it to the ground.
Icekit’s short whiskers quivered with amusement. “Next time we need leaves, I’m sure Brambleclaw will ask you to help!”
“You’ll make a great warrior,” Berrypaw told him. “And I promise to bring something tasty back for you.”
Hollypaw darted forward. “Can I go with them?” she asked Brambleclaw.
“You’re going to the Gathering tonight,” he meowed. “I want you to save your energy for that.”
“But I’ve been asleep half the morning,” she protested.
“You’re half-starved, like the rest of the Clan,” Brambleclaw told her. “Rest and eat today. You can hunt tomorrow.”
“But Lionpaw’s been hunting!” Hollypaw answered hotly.
“It’s not fair.”
“Life isn’t fair. Stay in camp.” He nodded to Squirrelflight and together they led Berrypaw out into the forest.
Furious, Hollypaw turned and stomped across the clearing. Her Clan was starving and they wouldn’t let her hunt!
For a moment she wondered whether to sneak out of camp and hunt by herself. But if she got caught Firestar probably wouldn’t let her go to the Gathering or hunting tomorrow. It wasn’t worth it.
Overhead, the great white moon made the hollow glow with silver light.
Hollypaw sniffed the air. Clear skies. A good sign.
Graystripe and Millie waited in the clearing with Ashfur and Stormfur. Brackenfur sat beside them, tugging with his teeth at the fur between his claws. Squirrelflight washed her ears as Brambleclaw stood next to her and glanced up at Highledge. They would leave for the Gathering as soon as Firestar appeared.
The apprentices were fidgeting beside the thorn barrier.
“Do you think Blackstar will mention the battle?”
Cinderpaw mewed.
Honeypaw paced in front of the camp entrance. “I bet ShadowClan never talks about its defeats.”
“What do you think, Hollypaw?” Lionpaw asked. But Hollypaw hardly heard. Jaypaw was staring at the patrol as it prepared to leave camp. His clear blue gaze gave nothing away, but she knew how disappointed he must be.
She padded over to him. “I’ll tell you about it as soon as I get back,” she promised.
Jaypaw didn’t reply.
She pressed her flank against his. “You’ll go to the next Gathering, I’m sure,” she comforted him. “Poppypaw and Mousefur will be better by then.”
“I know.” Only the smallest twitch of his tail betrayed his frustration.
“Hollypaw!” Brackenfur’s call made her jump. Firestar had leaped down from Highledge, Sandstorm behind him.
“I’ve got to go,” she mewed.
“Hurry up!” Lionpaw called as she hurried to join the others.
Hollypaw glanced over her shoulder at Jaypaw. He had gotten to his paws and was padding slowly toward the elders’ den.
“Jaypaw will be fine,” Cinderpaw reassured her.
Hollypaw stiffened her shoulders. Jaypaw was taking care of his Clan. Besides, she didn’t want to worry about her brother right now. This was her first Gathering as a warrior apprentice, and her paws tingled with anticipation.
Firestar signaled with a flick of his tail, then dived out through the thorn tunnel. Brambleclaw and the other warriors sped after him. The apprentices bunched together as they raced to be first out of camp. Lionpaw’s pelt brushed against Hollypaw’s. His fur was bristling as they burst from the tunnel.
“Do you think the other Clans know I’m a warrior apprentice now?” Hollypaw panted, ducking through the bracken.
“If they don’t, I’m sure you’ll tell them,” Lionpaw teased.
Hollypaw nudged him with her shoulder and sent him veering against a bramble bush.
“Hey!” he protested. Hollypaw sped ahead and Lionpaw pelted after her.
She raced past Ashfur and Stormfur and swerved to shelter behind Brackenfur. “Help!” she squealed. “Lionpaw’s trying to get me!”
A purr rumbled in Brackenfur’s throat. “Don’t hide behind me!” He lengthened his stride and shot forward, leaving Hollypaw undefended. Lionpaw caught up with her and nudged her, making her stumble.
“Now we’re even!” he called.
“I’ll get you later!” she threatened.
The patrol pounded down the slope toward the lakeshore.
Graystripe pulled ahead, clearly excited to be going to a Gathering with his Clan once more. He glanced, eyes shining, at Millie, as she caught up with him. “Do you still think you made the right decision, coming with me to the Clan?”
“Wherever you are is the right place for me to be,” Millie replied quietly.
Leaves turned to grass and then marsh beneath their paws, and the cats slowed as they skirted the lake. They had to travel slowly over the boggy earth, which gave way under every pawstep.
Before long Hollypaw could see the silhouette of the fallen tree bridging the gap between shore and island. Her paws tingled, and she quickened her step. Firestar and Squirrelflight were already crossing, with Sandstorm and Honeypaw right behind them, while Brambleclaw and Berrypaw waited their turn next to Leafpool.