Eclipse

A croaking mew sounded from a nest in the shadows. “I’ve been awake for ages.” Cinderpaw sounded in pain. Hollypaw hurried over to her friend’s nest. The gray apprentice lay awkwardly on the moss, her injured leg sticking out, her eyes dull.

Leafpool padded across the cave and dropped a mouthful of leaves beside the nest.

Hollypaw gazed anxiously at the medicine cat. “Is she okay?”

“She’s wrenched the muscles in her leg.”

“In that case, she just needs to start using it,” Hollypaw mewed brightly. “To build up her strength.”

“Easy for you to say,” Cinderpaw grumbled.

“Come on, try stretching it,” Hollypaw encouraged.

Trembling, Cinderpaw strained to move her leg. “I can’t!”

Hollypaw’s heart lurched. Cinderpaw had never sounded so miserable.

“It’s bound to be stiff,” Leafpool told her.

Hollypaw narrowed her eyes. There was sharpness in the medicine cat’s voice. Was she frustrated that Cinderpaw was making such a fuss?

“Try stretching it again,” Leafpool meowed.

“Yes,” Hollypaw agreed. “The sooner you start moving around, the better.”

Screwing up her face, Cinderpaw struggled to her feet.

“Try putting a little weight on it,” Leafpool suggested.

Cinderpaw gingerly pressed her paw to the ground. “Ow!”

She flopped back into her nest. “It hurts too much, and I’m too tired.”

“Eat these herbs.” Leafpool nosed the pile of leaves close to Cinderpaw’s face. “I’ll fetch some more ointment to soothe the swelling.” The medicine cat was frowning. Was she worried, or upset?

As Leafpool padded to the other side of the cave, Hollypaw decided to try to distract her friend. “Icepaw’s been on her first patrol.”

“Really?” Cinderpaw sounded uninterested.

Hollypaw searched for something else to tell her. Should she share what Brambleclaw had told her last night? She’s going to find out anyway. “Firestar’s giving Poppypaw and Honeypaw their warrior names today.”

Cinderpaw turned her head away and closed her eyes.

“It’ll be your turn soon,” Hollypaw promised.

“I just want to sleep,” Cinderpaw muttered, without opening her eyes.

“Okay.” Feeling wretched, Hollypaw padded to the entrance.

“Don’t forget to eat those herbs!” she called over her shoulder.

Cinderpaw merely grunted, and Hollypaw pushed her way out through the brambles.

Jaypaw was heading toward the den.

Hollypaw greeted him. “You’re up early.”

“I’ve been checking on Millie.” He halted beside her. “Were you visiting Cinderpaw?”

“Yes.” Hollypaw sighed. “She seems even worse than the last time she hurt her leg.”

“She’ll feel better once the swelling goes down.”

“Will she be able to walk again?” Hollypaw’s ears twitched.

She realized with a jolt that she was terrified of the answer.

Jaypaw blinked. “Of course she will! She’s only wrenched her leg. She should heal quicker this time.”

Is that true? Hollypaw searched his face. “But Cinderpaw won’t even try to move. Last time, we could hardly keep her still.”

“She’s just upset,” Jaypaw mewed. “She was so close to making warrior, and now she’s got to wait.”

“But Leafpool seemed really worried.”

“Leafpool!” Jaypaw snorted angrily and padded past her into the den.

Surprised, Hollypaw watched him go. Had he fallen out with his mentor? But what have they got to fall out over?

“Hollypaw!” Foxpaw’s excited mew made her spin around.

The young apprentice nearly crashed into her as she skidded to a halt. “Firestar’s about to give Poppypaw and Honeypaw their warrior names!”

Hollypaw looked up at Highledge and saw Firestar gazing down at the clearing. “Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather together!” he called.

Thornclaw and Sandstorm were already waiting below Highledge with Honeypaw and Poppypaw. The young cats looked sleek and shiny from close grooming, and their eyes sparkled.

Hollypaw hurried to join Lionpaw at the edge of the clearing. Her paws were tingling. She was only a moon younger than Poppypaw and Honeypaw. It would be her turn next.

“Can you imagine what it feels like to be made a warrior?” she whispered to Lionpaw.

Lionpaw puffed out his chest. “Every cat will take us seriously then,” he meowed.

Millie, swollen-bellied, padded from the nursery and looked hopefully around the camp. Her eyes lit up when she spotted Graystripe gulping down a mouse beside the halfrock.

He looked up, swallowing. “Sorry.” He burped, hurrying to her side. “I was hungry after the patrol.” He looked anxiously at her. “Have you eaten?”

Millie licked his cheek. “Poppypaw brought us fresh-kill earlier,” she assured him.

They padded to the edge of the clearing, which buzzed with chatter as the Clan gathered for the naming ceremony.

Mousefur padded stiffly from the elders’ den, Longtail beside her. It was hard to tell who was guiding whom.

“At this rate, there won’t be any apprentices left to fetch moss for my nest,” Mousefur complained.

Icepaw was bouncing past the elder and stopped to gaze earnestly up at her. “I’ll always fetch you the softest moss, Mousefur,” she promised. “Even when I’m a warrior.”