ThunderClan cerem ony. It was right it should be held in their sacred place. Would they share with him afterward? He hoped so. He wanted to know if his ancestors were proud of him.
Squirrelflight paced the clearing a few tail-lengths away.
“Blossom fall, Berry nose, Sparkpelt, and Tawny pelt.” She flicked her tail toward the warriors at the edge of the clearing. “I want you to come hunting with m e.”
Alderpaw blinked happily at his sister. Her eyes were bright, and she blinked back at him affectionately as Squirrelflight went on.
“We could do with a few more pieces of prey on the fresh-kill pile now that we have extra m ouths to feed.” Her gaze flicked toward Rowanstar and Tigerheart, who were sharing a pigeon beneath the Highledge.
Tigerheart leaped to his paws. “I’ll hunt with y ou!” he offered eagerly.
Squirrelflight flicked her tail. “You stay here. Tawny pelt can help us.”
Tawny pelt looked toward Rowanstar. “Is it okay if I hunt?”
Squirrelflight’s hackles lifted. “You don’t need to ask him!” she snapped. “I organize the hunting parties in ThunderClan.”
Squirrelflight’s pelt spiked angrily as Rowanstar nodded to Tawny pelt and the ShadowClan she-cat crossed the clearing.
As Blossom fall and Berry nose j oined the patrol, the ThunderClan deputy glowered at them.
“Do you need to ask Rowanstar’s permission too?” She glanced pointedly at Tawny pelt. “Or are m y orders enough?”
Blossom fall and Berry nose glanced at each other, confused. Tawny pelt looked away, as though she hadn’t heard the ThunderClan deputy’s barbed reproach.
Alderpaw shifted his paws, unsettled by the discord the ShadowClan cats had sent rippling through the Clan. They won’t be here forever, he told him self. He glanced at Tigerheart. The broad-shouldered tom’s gaze was fixed on Dovewing again.
He always seem ed to have one eye on the blue-eyed she-cat. Dovewing seem ed unaware of it now, deep in conversation with Bum blestripe. But Tigerheart kept watching, his eyes narrowing as Bum blestripe m oved closer to his Clanmate.
A shiver ran through Alderpaw’s fur. Do Dovewing and Tigerheart share some kind of history?
The sooner these ShadowClan cats are gone, the better.
“Hurry up.” Leafpool’s mew shook him from his thoughts. Jayfeather was already heading through the entrance tunnel.
“Good luck!” Sparkpelt called to him from beside Squirrelflight.
Squirrelflight gazed at him proudly. “We’ll wait up for y ou!”
“Thanks!” Alderpaw ducked through the tunnel after Leafpool and Jayfeather, his heart quickening as he followed them toward the Moonpool.
“Do you think he’s coming?” Kestrelflight’s gaze was fixed on the rim of the hollow.
Alderpaw followed it, tasting the air for Puddleshine’s scent. “I guess if the rogues didn’t come to the Gathering, they won’t let Puddleshine come here either.”
Jayfeather flicked his tail. “He’s not coming,” he meowed.
Leafpool jerked her nose toward the blind medicine cat. “You know for sure?”
“No,” Jayfeather mewed. “But I’m pretty certain. I’m also pretty certain that I don’t want to sit here freezing m y fur off all night. Let’s get on with it.”
For newleaf, the night was clear and cold. The crow-black sky sparkled with stars. Mothwing nodded her agreem ent, and the medicine cats drew into a circle around Alderpaw.
Alderpaw stiffened, his heart quickening. “Can’t we wait a bit longer?” He wanted Puddleshine to see his nam ing cerem ony. He had waited so long for it. “I want him here.”
Jayfeather snorted. “You can want all you like. ShadowClan has m ade their choice and y ou can’t change it.”
Leafpool blinked at Alderpaw. “Puddleshine doesn’t need to witness y our nam ing cerem ony to know what a good medicine cat you will be. He has always respected y ou.”
Even though he’s been saving lives while I’ve been rolling herb bundles. Alderpaw pushed away the prick of resentm ent, realizing that he wouldn’t want to swap places with the ShadowClan medicine cat. He cleared his thoughts. He had worked hard, and he had earned this.
Jayfeather lifted his chin. “Let’s begin.”
Alderpaw faced him, excitem ent surging beneath his pelt. He was going to receive his medicine cat name at last!
“I, Jayfeather, medicine cat of ThunderClan, call upon m y warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the way s of a medicine cat, and with y our help he will serve his Clan for many moons.” Jayfeather stared at Alderpaw. His blue gaze was so intense that Alderpaw felt as if the blind cat were looking straight into his thoughts. His paws felt hot against the chilly stone.
“Alderpaw has always had a natural connection with StarClan,” Jayfeather went on. “You chose him, and you chose well. He is loy al, determ ined, and sm art. He has com passion and strength, a rare com bination. He will serve his Clan well.”
Alderpaw’s pelt pricked with surprise. Jayfeather was com plim enting him! He could feel the gazes of the others burning his fur. Self-consciously he shifted his paws and straightened his spine.
I must behave like a medicine cat!
Jayfeather went on. “Do y ou, Alderpaw, prom ise to uphold the way s of a medicine cat, to stand apart from rivalry between Clan and Clan, and to protect all cats equally, even at the cost of y our life?”
Alderpaw blinked at him, his m outh dry. “I do.”
“Then, by the powers of StarClan, I give you y our true name as a medicine cat. Alderpaw, from this m om ent you will be known as Alderheart. StarClan honors y our devotion and kindness, and we welcome you as a full medicine cat of ThunderClan.” Jayfeather stepped forward and rested his m uzzle on Alderpaw’s head. “Well done,” he breathed softly.
Alderpaw felt his m entor’s warm breath swirl around his ears as he drew back. Pride warm ed his pelt.
“Alderheart! Alderheart!” The other medicine cats called his name, their voices ringing around the stone sides of the hollow, spiraling up to the stars.
Jayfeather turned to the Moonpool. “Let us share with StarClan.” He crouched and touched his nose to the water.
Leafpool caught Alderheart’s eye as she padded toward the water. Pride glowed in her gaze.
“Congratulations,” she purred softly.
“Thanks.” Alderheart ducked down beside her, his heart bursting with j oy, and dipped his m uzzle toward the pool.
At once, sunshine bathed him. Its warmth reached through his fur. He blinked at the brightness.
He was back in the rolling m eadows where he’d m et Yellowfang. He padded forward, the soft grass brushing his paws. “Yellowfang?” He scanned the field hopefully. There was no sign of her, but at the edge of the field he saw the shapes of two cats sunning them selves in the low branches of a tree. He bounded toward them, his tail stream ing behind him.
The light brown tabby she-cat and the pale gray tom didn’t seem to see him. Sunshine glinted on their glossy pelts. The light brown tabby’s tail draped over the branch as she blinked at the tom.
The tom returned her gaze, his round eyes bright, his ears pricked. As Alderheart neared, he heard them m urm uring quietly to each other. Skidding to a halt beneath the tree, he looked up.
Should he call out? Should he tell them he was here? That he was a medicine cat now? As he lifted his face, leaves showered over him. They twirled in the breeze, brushing his face and whiskers.
Five-pointed leaves.
Embrace what you find in the shadows, for only they can clear the sky.
The voice rang in his head.