Eclipse

Cats moved through it, some talking, some chasing prey, others simply basking in the sunshine. An orange pelt shimmered beyond a swath of ferns. A tabby groomed a tortoiseshell, while a cat with a black-and-white pelt crept through the long grass, stalking prey. Jaypaw didn’t recognize anyone. Ancestors from the other Clans. Jaypaw was frustrated. He wanted to talk to someone he knew.

His hopes lifted as he recognized a pelt weaving through the long grass ahead of him. Then, with a sigh, he realized it was Littlecloud. He hadn’t meant to be here, in Littlecloud’s dream. He was about to turn away when he noticed a small gray-and-white tom padding toward the ShadowClan medicine cat. The tom’s pelt was flecked with grizzled strands of fur. He must be ancient!

Littlecloud dipped his head in greeting. “Runningnose.”

The tom blinked in reply, his nose glistening between sniffs.

I’m not surprised they don’t touch muzzles. Jaypaw slipped behind a tree and listened. He knew Runningnose had been a ShadowClan medicine cat many moons ago. What kind of medicine cat can’t cure his own cold?

“How are things?” Runningnose asked.

Littlecloud hesitated, and Jaypaw could sense that he was groping for an answer.

“Is the prey running well?” Runningnose pressed. His eyes narrowed as Littlecloud fidgeted in front of him, shifting his weight from one paw to another.

“Prey’s running fine,” Littlecloud answered.

“Are the Twolegs bothering you?”

Littlecloud shook his head.

“What about Tawnypelt’s kits? Are they healthy?” Runningnose sat down, clearly puzzled as Littlecloud’s gaze darted to his paws. “What’s wrong?” he demanded.

“It’s Blackstar!” Littlecloud blurted out his leader’s name with a guilty glance over his shoulder. He dropped his voice to a whisper so Jaypaw had to prick his ears to catch the rest.

“He’s so…” Littlecloud was still searching for words. “So… distant.”

“Distant?” Runningnose echoed. “Do you mean he’s left the Clan?”

“No!” Irritation edged Littlecloud’s mew. “Distant, as in distracted. He lets Russetfur organize all the patrols, and he’s started to say things.” Littlecloud flicked his tail.

“What sort of things?”

“He says he wonders if StarClan meant to bring us to the lake at all!” Littlecloud burst out.

Runningnose’s gaze darkened. “Then you’re right to be worried.”

“I am?”

“Blackstar is losing his faith,” Runningnose meowed.

Littlecloud’s ears twitched. “How can that be? He’s always believed.”

“It doesn’t matter why or how.” Runningnose rubbed a paw across his muzzle. “You must help him to find his faith again.”

“But how?” Littlecloud sounded dismayed. “What can I do?”

“Help him find his faith again,” Runningnose repeated.

The old tom was fading, growing transparent like the forest around him.

“Help me!” Littlecloud begged. But the forest had disappeared.

Jaypaw blinked open his eyes and found himself in darkness beside the Moonpool. He got to his paws, frustrated.

What did it matter to him if Blackstar was turning into a birdbrain? Surely it was better if ShadowClan were led by a senile old fool?

Leafpool was stirring beside him. “Did you dream of anything?” she whispered.

“No,” Jaypaw replied, still feeling out of sorts. “Nothing that matters.”

Chapter 10

A fox screeched from deep in the forest. Hollypaw stirred in her nest as its bark echoed around the walls of the camp and crept into her dreams. “Not in the tunnels,” she murmured.

“What?” Lionpaw rolled over beside her, but Hollypaw didn’t answer. She had fallen back into sleep, slipping into the dream again.

A tunnel stretched away in front of her, disappearing into shadow. The dark river frothed and swirled at her tail.

Heavy paws padded down the tunnel toward her, claws scraping against the rock f loor. The stench of fox filled her nose. Her pelt pricked in terror as she saw a shape forming from the shadows, eyes glowing in the dark. Fox! She backed away, feeling the river tugging at her hind paws. The shape kept coming, eyes unblinking, until it emerged into the half-light.

It was Lionpaw.

She leaped up with a start as a paw touched her shoulder.

“Hollypaw?” Brackenfur was standing beside her nest. The den was in darkness, weak moonlight washing through the branches of the yew. “Are you okay?”

She was trembling, her pelt hot with panic. “It was just a dream.” Relief washed over her like a cool wind.

“Can’t you dream more quietly?” Lionpaw grumbled beside her. “I was out on the midnight patrol while you were snoring.” He rolled over and tucked his muzzle under his paw.

“It’s your turn now, Hollypaw,” Brackenfur meowed softly.

Foxpaw and Icepaw were fast asleep in their nests.

“Is it dawn?” Hollypaw asked, trying to rub the sleep from her eyes.

“Not for a while yet,” Brackenfur whispered. “We’re doing the predawn patrol.”