Brokenkit’s neck fur bristled up and he swiped at Deerkit, catching him a blow on the nose.
Deerkit let out an outraged yowl. “That hurt!”
“And it serves you right,” Yellowfang snapped. “Go back to the nursery until you learn how to be nice.”
The two kits trailed off, casting resentful glances behind them as they went.
“Don’t listen to them, Brokenkit,” Yellowfang went on when they had gone. “There’s nothing wrong with—”
Brokenkit turned on her, anger flaring in his eyes. “They’re right. I’m not learning anything useful here! You’re just a dumb old medicine cat, not a warrior. Why do you make me come here all the time?”
“I don’t make you.” Shocked, Yellowfang reached out her tail to him, but Brokenkit batted it away.
“Quit bugging me, and leave me alone!” With a furious hiss, he ran off.
Yellowfang stared after him miserably. What have I done?
“Perhaps it’s for the best,” Sagewhisker murmured in her ear. “He needs to grow up as normal as possible so that he’s not singled out any more than he already has been.”
Yellowfang rounded on her. “What would you know?” she demanded. “He’s my son! I’d do anything to stop him from being hurt!”
In the days that followed, Brokenkit avoided the medicine cats’ den. Yellowfang never gave up hope that he would come back. Every time she heard him outside she would rush to the entrance, but he always turned away from her. Yet he was constantly alone; his littermates went on ignoring him, even Runningkit, who had never joined in the bullying since Yellowfang had interrupted them.
Watching Brokenkit wrestle with a stick in the middle of the clearing, Yellowfang’s heart ached for him. He was so strong and confident and handsome; even his crooked tail didn’t show so much now that his fur had thickened. But he doesn’t have any friends.
“Brokenkit never plays with the others.”
Yellowfang was startled to hear her own thoughts spoken aloud. The voice was Amberleaf’s; the dark orange she-cat was strolling past with Blizzardwing, on their way to join Raggedpelt, who was sorting out the patrols near the camp entrance.
“Well, he’s not like the others, is he?” Blizzardwing commented. “But he’s a strong young cat. He’ll be fine once he’s an apprentice.”
The two cats padded on, out of earshot. Yellowfang gazed after them, trying to comfort herself with the thought that Blizzardwing was right.
When the patrols had left, Raggedpelt bounded over to where Brokenkit was playing and stood watching him. After a moment, Brokenkit realized that he was there and looked up.
“Try attacking with both paws at once,” Raggedpelt advised. “If it was a real enemy, you’d need to leap on him with the full power of your claws.”
Brokenkit nodded and leaped on the stick again, smashing both paws down on it so that it splintered. Raggedpelt gave him a nod of approval.
Cedarstar had emerged from his den to watch the exchange between Raggedpelt and his son. “He looks very strong,” he remarked to Raggedpelt.
“Yes, he’s ready to be an apprentice,” Raggedpelt responded proudly.
Yellowfang glimpsed a flash of trouble in Cedarstar’s eyes as he studied Brokenkit battering the stick. “Being an apprentice isn’t just about being able to fight our enemies,” he meowed. “Brokenkit needs to learn the importance of patience, honor, and loyalty as well, just like any young cat.”
“He’ll have all of those!” Raggedpelt assured him. “Just you wait!”
As Yellowfang watched Brokenkit glowering over the pieces of stick, she tried to suppress the memory of Molepelt’s dire warning. Brokenkit is going to be fine!
A heart-wrenching cry from her den drove these thoughts from Yellowfang’s mind. She spun around and raced inside to find Sagewhisker sprawled on her side next to the herb stores, gasping in pain. In the same heartbeat Yellowfang felt a searing agony in her chest. For a moment her heart seemed to stop, and she couldn’t breathe.
No! Sagewhisker!
Using all the control she had taught herself, Yellowfang fought through the pain and staggered to Sagewhisker’s side. “Hold on!” she begged. “Please hold on! I’ll help you…”
“I can’t… it’s too much,” Sagewhisker hissed through clenched teeth. “StarClan needs me now…”
“What’s happening?” Brightflower appeared at the entrance to the den and rushed across to Sagewhisker.
At the same moment Sagewhisker’s whole body convulsed and then was still. Her clear blue eyes clouded over, gazing at nothing.
“Sagewhisker…” Yellowfang whispered.
“She hunts with StarClan now,” Brightflower murmured, laying her tail across Yellowfang’s shoulder and drawing her away. “She served her Clan well,” she meowed. “No ShadowClan cat will ever forget her.”
Yellowfang nodded, but she was too stunned to say anything. She was aware of Brightflower leaving the den, and a short while later Cedarstar appeared. Yellowfang watched in a blur as he stood beside Sagewhisker’s body and dipped his head in a gesture of respect.
“Farewell, Clanmate,” he meowed. “You were a good medicine cat and a good friend. May you continue to guide ShadowClan as you walk in the stars.”
The elders followed the Clan leader into the den and carried Sagewhisker’s body into the clearing for the vigil. Yellowfang stumbled after them, numb with grief. The rest of the Clan padded up, touching their noses to Sagewhisker’s cold fur, quietly sharing memories of her as they gathered around.
Yellowfang crouched beside her mentor all the rest of that day and all night, while the stars whirled overhead. “I’m sorry, Sagewhisker,” she murmured. “I’m so sorry for letting you down. I promise to uphold the code of the medicine cats until my very last breath.” Her voice cracked. “I owe you so much…”
The sky was milky pale when the elders arrived to take Sagewhisker’s body away for burial. Yellowfang rose to her paws, feeling stiff and dazed after the long vigil.
“May StarClan light your path, Sagewhisker,” she mewed, her voice ringing out over the camp as she spoke the ancient farewell for all lost Clanmates. “May you find good hunting, swift running, and shelter when you sleep.” Then she stood back to let Littlebird, Stonetooth, and Lizardfang pick up the body.
Littlebird paused beside her. “You’ll be a good medicine cat,” she murmured kindly. “Just as Sagewhisker was. ShadowClan is lucky to have you.”
Yellowfang watched as the three elders bore Sagewhisker’s body out of the camp.
Oh, Littlebird, I wish I could believe you!
Chapter 29
“Nightpelt, you are an intelligent and dedicated warrior,” Cedarstar meowed. “I know that you will do your best to pass on these qualities to Brokenpaw.”
Nightpelt dipped his head to the Clan leader. “I’ll do my best, Cedarstar,” he promised, his eyes shining with pride. He had hardly coughed at all through the apprentice ceremony.
“Brokenpaw! Brokenpaw!”
Yellowfang’s heart swelled with pride as the Clan greeted her son by his new name. She felt a rush of relief, too, that Cedarstar had chosen Nightpelt as his mentor. Nightpelt was sensible and wise, and would teach Brokenpaw that there was more to the warrior code than fighting.
But she was disconcerted to see the shock in Brokenpaw’s face when Cedarstar named his mentor. He hesitated for a moment before padding over to Nightpelt to touch noses with him. She was even more worried when she heard him mutter to Deerpaw, “How come I got the sick cat? That’s so not fair!” Yellowfang was sure that Nightpelt must have heard him too, although he gave no sign of it.