Fading Echoes

“Okay.” Littlecloud nodded. “We’ll head for our border from here.”

“See you next half-moon,” Jayfeather called as the two cats walked into the trees.

“Say hi to Tigerheart from me!” Dovepaw mewed.

Lionblaze glanced at her. Why was she sending greetings to Tigerheart?

Her pelt ruffled as she caught his eye. “And, er, say hi to Dawnpelt too,” she added quickly.

Jayfeather was already following the trail home. His shoulders were slumped and his eyes were glazed with tiredness.

Lionblaze fell in beside him. “So?”

“Wait, what about these?” Dovepaw was staring around at the feathers, scattered below the poplar.

“We can come back for them later,” Lionblaze meowed over his shoulder. “What happened?” He pressed close to Jayfeather, guiding him with his shoulder. His brother seemed happy to lean against him.

“I visited the Dark Forest,” Jayfeather began.

“What do you mean?” Dovepaw gasped.

“That’s where our real enemies lie,” Lionblaze told her.

Dovepaw blinked. “Dead warriors?”

Lionblaze felt a flicker of frustration. Why hadn’t they told Dovepaw earlier? There wasn’t time to explain it all now. “Just listen,” he ordered. He turned his attention back to Jayfeather. “What did you see?”

“I met Brokenstar,” Jayfeather meowed. “He’s the one who fought against me with Breezepelt.”

“The old ShadowClan leader?” Lionblaze’s pelt bristled.

Jayfeather nodded. “And we saw Hawkfrost training warriors.”

Lionblaze’s heart lurched. “Clan warriors?”

“No. Dark Forest warriors.”

“So we still don’t have any proof they’re recruiting Clan cats.”

“No.” Jayfeather sighed. “But they are up to something. Why else would dead warriors be training? Their fighting days are long gone. And they were using some pretty nasty moves.”

Lionblaze felt Jayfeather shudder against him. But he wasn’t afraid. He unsheathed his claws. Strength pulsed through the muscles beneath his pelt. He couldn’t wait to take on Hawkfrost and Tigerstar in a battle! He knew he could beat them both.

Dovepaw padded after them, the fur bristling along her spine. “How could Dark Forest cats recruit Clan warriors?”

“Through their dreams,” Jayfeather told her.

“But why in the name of StarClan would Clan cats listen to them?”

“You don’t know Tigerstar,” Jayfeather warned. “He preys on other cats’ weaknesses. He can make them feel like they’re strong and noble by doing what he wants them to. They probably don’t even realize they’re doing anything wrong.”

Dovepaw’s gaze was fixed on Jayfeather as she padded beside him. “How could any cat be so dumb?”

Lionblaze felt heat spreading under his pelt. Tigerstar had fooled him like that once. Never again.

Jayfeather shrugged. “All cats like praise,” he meowed. “And Tigerstar is smart enough to exploit any grudges. He knows that there will always be warriors glad of a chance to settle old scores.” He didn’t mention Breezepelt’s grudge against his ThunderClan kin.

Dovepaw stretched her eyes wide. “No ThunderClan cat would keep old wounds open once they’d healed.”

Lionblaze was pleased to hear his apprentice speaking like a true warrior. As far as he was concerned, once a battle was fought, it was finished. But Dovepaw’s innocence made her vulnerable right now. “We’re just trying to warn you that not all warriors are perfect, and Tigerstar will be the first to take advantage of that.”

“How can we fight Tigerstar if he’s dead?” Dovepaw protested.

“We need you to keep your senses alert,” Lionblaze mewed. “Listen for unusual signs in the other Clans. Tell us anything you hear or see that seems out of the ordinary. Anything that might suggest the Dark Forest cats are training Clan cats.”

“You mean, spy on them?” Dovepaw sounded horrified.

“Yes,” Jayfeather meowed simply. “And not just in other Clans. In ThunderClan too.”

Dovepaw stood still. “Spy on my own Clanmates? No way!”

“It’s not that we don’t trust them,” Lionblaze tried to explain. “We don’t trust Tigerstar.”

“You don’t trust anyone!” Dovepaw accused. “Do you even trust me?” Her pelt was standing on end. “You’re totally over-reacting. You’re just looking for a way to use your powers. Maybe the prophecy has nothing to do with Tigerstar. Maybe we’re just meant to be the best warriors we can be. Why should I be responsible for every cat’s destiny?” She darted forward, yowling over her shoulder, “I’m going back to camp! I just want to be normal! I’m not going to spy on any cat!”

She hared away through the trees.

“That went well,” Lionblaze muttered. Then he sighed. “Maybe we’re asking too much of her.”

Jayfeather padded on. “She’s part of the prophecy,” he growled. “We didn’t choose her. She has to be strong!” His voice softened. “I don’t want Dovepaw to get hurt. But she’s one of the Three, and she has to play her part.”

One of the Three. Lionblaze’s thoughts flashed back to Hollyleaf. Why couldn’t it have been her? Grief stung as he remembered her wisdom and sharp thinking. She may not have been part of the prophecy, but she was his littermate, and sometimes that counted for more than anything.