Dark River

“He was RiverClan’s medicine cat before Mothwing!” Leafpool gasped. “What was he doing in your dream? What was either of them doing…” Her voice trailed away and Jaypaw felt anger flare from her. “You went into Willowpaw’s dream, didn’t you?”

“Hollypaw told me to find out if RiverClan were in trouble.”

“Did she tell you to trespass on her friend’s dreams?”

“Of course not. Hollypaw doesn’t understand that stuff.

She just wanted to know what was wrong, so I tried to find out.”

“As a favor to your littermate.” Leafpool’s mew was scathing. And yet beneath her anger Jaypaw could sense fear, which puzzled him. What was there to be scared of?

“StarClan let me do it,” he told her. “Why are you making such a fuss? The most important thing is that we know RiverClan is in trouble.”

“You shouldn’t be able to find things like that out so easily,” Leafpool murmured, half to herself.

“Just because you can’t do it, doesn’t mean it’s wrong,” Jaypaw snorted impatiently.

“That’s got nothing to do with it!” Leafpool snapped. “I’m worried it’ll be like last time.”

“When I dreamed about the dogs attacking WindClan?”

“When Barkface dreamed about the dogs attacking WindClan!” Leafpool was fighting not to raise her voice. “StarClan shared with him so he could protect his Clan. You wanted to take advantage of their vulnerability.”

“Well, this time I’m just doing Hollypaw a favor,” Jaypaw mewed.

“Don’t tell anyone else what you’re doing,” Leafpool begged.

“Why not?” Jaypaw flexed his claws. “Why should I keep secrets about a gift StarClan has given me?”

Why was Leafpool so fond of secrets? Secrets about his gift, secrets about Mothwing and StarClan. He suspected there were even more secrets buried in his mentor’s heart, secrets that she guarded so closely he had never been able to glimpse them.

“Knowledge can be dangerous,” Leafpool warned.

Frustration clawed at Jaypaw’s belly. He lived his life in darkness; he longed for light and clarity, not shadows. He forced away his anger. Leafpool had lived too long with secrets. He couldn’t change her mind in a single night. But why did she have to drag him into her complicated world?

“We will tell Firestar about RiverClan, though, won’t we?” he prompted.

“We might as well.” Leafpool paused. “But please don’t mention how you found out.”

Jaypaw didn’t reply. It was just like the WindClan dream.

He hadn’t cared then whether the other cats knew what he could do or not. He didn’t care now. But he didn’t like Leafpool making the decision for him. He hurried ahead, familiar now with the ground beneath his paws. They were almost back at camp. He broke into a run and heard Leafpool’s paws pattering on the fallen leaves behind him.

She was right on his tail as he burst into the camp.

“Leafpool?” Firestar’s mew sounded from the Highledge.

“Is something wrong?”

“I need to talk to you,” Leafpool called. She whisked past Jaypaw, heading toward the tumble of fallen rocks.

We need to talk to you! He followed her up to Highledge.

“Come inside.” Firestar led the two cats into his cave.

Jaypaw could scent Sandstorm and hear the steady lapping of her tongue.

“Good morning, Leafpool.” Sandstorm paused from her washing. Her voice softened as she addressed him. “Good morning, Jaypaw.” A twinge of resentment stabbed his belly.

She still thinks I’m a kit.

“I had a dream—” he began.

“—about RiverClan.” Leafpool quickly finished his sentence. “Jaypaw dreamed they were in trouble. There seemed to be a problem with their home.”

Firestar’s tail swished over the ground. “Was there any message about ThunderClan?”

“ThunderClan wasn’t involved,” Leafpool meowed carefully.

“And there was no clear sign about what their problem is?”

Firestar queried.

“Not exactly,” Jaypaw admitted.

“Then I don’t see what we can do,” Firestar concluded.

“Shouldn’t we try to help them?” Leafpool’s mew was brittle with surprise.

“If they need help, they’ll ask for it.” Firestar shifted his paws. “It’s none of our business.”

“Why not?” Jaypaw bristled with frustration.

“I haven’t forgotten the last time you came to me with a dream,” Firestar growled. “It’s not part of the warrior code to attack every Clan that seems weak!”

Jaypaw’s ears burned. “I never said anything about attacking them! We could help them.” If ThunderClan helped now, RiverClan would be in their debt.

“Perhaps we could pay them a friendly visit,” Leafpool suggested.

“No.” Firestar was firm. “We have our own Clan to worry about. I don’t know why StarClan can’t send you dreams about us instead of announcing every other Clan’s problems!”

Leafpool took a step forward. “You could send a patrol though, just to see. If they stayed near the shore, it wouldn’t break the—”