Outcast

“They helped us on the Great Journey,” Squirrelflight mewed.

“And Feathertail died for them!” Crowfeather spat, his blue eyes blazing. “We owe them nothing.”

Feathertail had been a RiverClan cat, Stormfur’s sister, who had died on the first journey. None of the other cats seemed to think her death was a reason not to help the Tribe now. Why should Crowfeather take it so personally?

Feathertail hadn’t even been his Clanmate.

“Feathertail was willing to help the Tribe before,” Squirrelflight replied calmly. “She would help them again. It wasn’t the Tribe’s fault she died. You can blame Sharptooth for that.”

A shiver ran through Hollypaw and she dug her claws hard into the tough moorland grass. Squirrelflight was talking so matter-of-factly about stories Hollypaw had heard since she was in the nursery! It was as if her mother and father belonged in a legend. Crowfeather, too, though it was hard for Hollypaw to reconcile the brave warrior, StarClan’s chosen, with the suspicious, bad-tempered, skinny cat who stood in front of her. No wonder Breezepaw is so grumpy. He got it from his father!

“Squirrelflight, greetings.”

Hollypaw whirled to see Whitetail returning with Onestar and Ashfoot, the WindClan deputy. It was Onestar who had spoken; he padded up to Squirrelflight with his head and tail held high.

“Greetings, Onestar.” Squirrelflight dipped her head.

“You’re welcome to our camp.” The WindClan leader sounded friendly, though there was surprise in his amber eyes. “What can we do for you?”

Squirrelflight launched into a more detailed explanation of how the Tribe cats had come to ThunderClan looking for help. Crowfeather listened with the same disgruntled expression, while other WindClan cats gathered around. Hollypaw spotted Heatherpaw, and gave her a nod; Breezepaw had reappeared too, standing beside his fellow apprentice.

“So Brambleclaw and I thought that all the cats who went on the first journey should go now and help the Tribe,” Squirrelflight finished. “Brambleclaw has gone to ShadowClan to speak to Tawnypelt, and I came here to tell Crowfeather.”

Onestar narrowed his eyes. “He would be away for a long time, perhaps a moon or more.”

“And I have an apprentice,” Crowfeather reminded him.

“True. All the same, I think you should go,” Onestar meowed. “The Tribe of Rushing Water gave us food and shelter on the Great Journey. Without their help, many cats would have died, and we might never have found this home by the lake. Besides,” he went on, ignoring Crowfeather as he tried to interrupt, “the mountain cats were kind to Tallstar when he was on his last life. We would honor him by helping them now.”

Crowfeather looked taken aback. “But what about Heatherpaw’s training?”

“Whitetail can take over as her mentor,” Onestar decided.

“She will be without an apprentice, since I think it would be a good idea if Breezepaw went along with you.”

Oh, no! Hollypaw thought. You might be fed up with him, but we don’t want him either, thanks.

“What?” Breezepaw exclaimed. His eyes stretched wide with dismay.

“You’re so lucky!” Heatherpaw put in, with a sigh of envy.

“I’d give my tail to go.”

“Well, I don’t want to!”

“Don’t worry, you’ll be coming back,” Hollypaw snapped.

“How do you know that?” Breezepaw’s ears flattened and his tail drooped. “I think my Clanmates just want to get rid of me.”

He sounded so miserable that Hollypaw felt a rush of pity for him, but it lasted no more than a couple of heartbeats.

Breezepaw had broken the warrior code twice in the last moon; it was time he was taken down a tree branch or two.

Crowfeather padded forward a couple of paces to stand beside Squirrelflight. “It is my choice if I go,” he meowed, with a glance at Onestar. Hollypaw wondered if he was defying his leader, but Onestar didn’t rise to the challenge. “And I—I will go. I would like to stand again in the place where Feathertail lies.”

“What about Breezepaw?” Squirrelflight asked.

Crowfeather sighed. “Yes, I suppose he must come too, if Onestar orders it.”

Breezepaw shot his father a sulky look and started tearing up the grass with his claws. Hollypaw thought of her own mother and father; she was glad that they supported her when she wanted to try new things. It didn’t look as if Crowfeather and Breezepaw got along at all. And I can understand that, sort of, she thought, now that I’ve seen Crowfeather a few times. He’s just… weird.

“Do you want Crowfeather and Breezepaw to come with you now?” Onestar asked.

“Yes, please,” Squirrelflight replied. “We thought we would all stay in the ThunderClan camp tonight and set off in the morning. Leafpool is preparing traveling herbs.”

“I want to say good-bye to my friends first,” Breezepaw objected.

“There isn’t time!” Crowfeather snapped.