Path Of A Warrior

A shock of excitement ran through Tawnypelt. “Unless we go there.”

“No,” Tigerstar meowed immediately, his face stern. “Dovewing, our kits, and I just got here after a long journey. We’re not going anywhere. Especially not Shadowkit.”

“But Shadowkit’s vision must be telling him to go there,” Tawnypelt argued. Dovewing was looking thoughtful, and Tawnypelt turned to her. “The journey would be worth it if it helped him, wouldn’t it?”

Tigerstar hissed, his ears flattening. “He’s my kit, and he’s staying here.”

Tawnypelt stared at Dovewing, wondering how she would react. Tigerstar glanced at her, too, seeming a little surprised by the force of his own words. For her own part, Dovewing looked thoughtful, her green eyes dark until she raised her head and spoke. “I think Tawnypelt is right,” she said.

Tawnypelt blinked, pleased at the unexpected support.

Tigerstar’s eyes widened. “What?” he spluttered. “Shadowkit is too young to travel. He survived a hard trip here, and now you want to drag him away to some strange cats?” His fur seemed to bush out at the thought. “No, we should let Puddleshine take care of him.”

“He doesn’t know how!” Dovewing insisted. “Leafpool doesn’t, either! If we follow his vision, maybe it will help.”

“Or maybe he’ll be sick in the same way, but far from home, in the mountains, in leaf-bare,” Tigerstar retorted fiercely. “What do you expect, for this Tribe to look after him?”

“The Tribe is friendly,” Dovewing mewed. “I’ve been there. Tawnypelt and Leafpool have been there. They’d do whatever they could for Shadowkit, and maybe they’ll know something that can help him.”

“They were friendly then,” Tigerstar pointed out. “If anyone knows how Clans can change, it’s us.”

“However they changed, the Tribe would never hurt a kit,” Tawnypelt mewed firmly. “If Shadowkit’s vision isn’t pointing us toward them, and if they can’t help him, we will just bring him home.”

Tawnypelt looked at Tigerstar pleadingly. Dovewing’s fur brushed against hers, and, for the first time, she felt united with her son’s mate. She was sure that traveling to the Tribe of Rushing Water would be the best thing for Shadowkit, and she knew that Dovewing agreed.

Tigerstar stared back and forth between them, his tail slashing through the air. Finally, he shook his head. “No,” he said. “I’m the leader of this Clan, and Shadowkit is my son. StarClan gave him the knowledge to bring him here, and they won’t abandon him now. He’ll stay in ShadowClan, where he belongs.”

Chapter Four

Twigs were poking into Tawnypelt’s sides. She’d never noticed before how uncomfortable a nest could be. I was so used to having Rowanclaw to cushion me. The moss and pine needles that now did that job were useless tonight. Grunting, she rolled over, trying to find a more restful position. Was Shadowkit sleeping in the medicine cat’s den? Surely there would be some sound if he was ill again. She remembered the rigid flailing of his limbs, his rapid panting, and rolled over again, trying to push the image away.

“For StarClan’s sake, Tawnypelt!” Juniperclaw yowled from the next nest. “If you can’t sleep, maybe try taking a walk? You’re keeping every warrior in the den awake!”

“Remember how we all slept away from each other in the Twoleg den, Slatefur?” Cloverfoot meowed pointedly. “I miss that sometimes.”

“Fine,” Tawnypelt got to her feet, shaking pine needles from her fur. “But if you liked the Twoleg den so much, Cloverfoot, maybe you should go back there. You’re supposed to be a ShadowClan cat now.”

Before Cloverfoot could spit a reply, Tawnypelt stalked out of the den. Outside, she shivered in the night air, looking up at the clear light of the almost-full moon. Already, she regretted losing her temper in the warriors’ den. Tigerstar was right: She was easily irritated these days.

But I can’t stand what ShadowClan has become. A squabbling group of cats who she didn’t know, or who had fought against her and Rowanclaw, when they had just wanted to keep their Clan together.

A sharp pang of loss shot through her, and she suddenly missed Rowanclaw more than ever. Rowanclaw—when he was Rowanstar—would have listened to her about Shadowkit and the Tribe of Rushing Water. He had always taken Tawnypelt seriously, listened to her opinions about problems in the Clan. But no cat in ShadowClan cared what she thought now.

She knew that Shadowkit had to get to the Tribe. StarClan was sending him these visions for a reason, and they wouldn’t stop until he did what they wanted. Shadowkit could help the Tribe, and maybe they could help him. But Tigerstar wouldn’t listen to her.

Some cat needs to do what needs to be done. Tawnypelt licked her paw thoughtfully, shocked at her own idea. She could take Shadowkit, right now, and sneak out of ShadowClan camp in the night. No cat would be able to stop her.