Thunder And Shadow

Her eye caught Rowanstar’s. His gaze was as hard as ice.

It’s not a choice. Despair washed through her pelt. I’m not wanted here. I never truly was.

Chapter 11

Overhead, the full moon lit a crow-black sky. In the chilly island clearing, Alderpaw fidgeted beside Jayfeather.

“Can’t you sit still?” Jayfeather grunted.

It was the Gathering. Cats m illed in the clearing in front of them, their pelts shining in the moonlight. Bramblestar padded between them, greeting old allies. Onestar was already sitting in the great oak, staring at the Clan cats through narrowed eyes.

Misty star chatted with the deputies lined up at the foot of the tree. She purred as Squirrelflight nodded toward a group of apprentices, happily showing off battle m oves to one another at the edge of the clearing. Alderpaw wished he were with them, sharing Clan gossip. Did he have to sit here, being solem n and serious with Kestrelflight, Mothwing, and Willowshine, just because he was a medicine-cat apprentice? If he was going to be an apprentice longer than any other cat, couldn’t he at least have fun?

He glanced at Sparkpelt. It was her first Gathering as a warrior, and she sat beside Cherry fall, her chest puffed out proudly. Her green eyes sparkled as she gazed at the other cats. Bramblestar padded to her side and touched his m uzzle fondly to her head. Alderpaw ignored the prickle of envy in his pelt. He was proud of Sparkpelt too.

He glanced at the long grass at the edge of the clearing, tasting the air for ShadowClan scent.

They were late. He leaned forward eagerly. Would Needlepaw come? If she was still being punished for letting Violetkit leave the camp, she might not be allowed to attend the Gathering this tim e. His tail flicked anxiously. He’d prom ised to take news home to Twigkit about Violetkit. If he couldn’t ask Needlepaw, perhaps Sleekpaw would tell him.

Alderpaw stiffened as Mintfur j erked his gaze toward the edge of the clearing. Alderpaw pricked his ears as the RiverClan tom’s nose twitched. Paws scrabbled over the tree-bridge, bey ond the stretch of grass. Pebbles cracked. The ShadowClan cats were coming.

The cats in the clearing turned their heads one by one as the grass rustled and ShadowClan padded out.

Alderpaw frowned. They looked battle-worn. Rowanstar had a cut above his ey e. Crowfrost’s pelt showed signs of scratches. Wasptail was lim ping. Who had they been fighting? He looked for Needlepaw, his heart sinking when he saw she wasn’t with them. Sleekpaw wasn’t there either.

Perhaps Yarrowpaw or Strikepaw would be able to tell him about Violetkit.

Leafpool!

The medicine cat slid from the long grass.

Of course! He could ask her! Alderpaw hurried to m eet her as she headed for the group of medicine cats. As he neared, he saw that her eyes were dark with worry. Puddlepaw padded behind her, tail down. “Has som ething happened?” he asked as he reached them.

Leafpool lowered her gaze and padded past him. “Rowanstar will share the news.”

“Is Violetkit okay?” Anxiety flashed through Alderpaw’s fur.

“She was well the last time I saw her.” Leafpool sat beside Mothwing. She glanced at Alderpaw, then looked away.

The last time she saw her? Alderpaw stared at her, confused. “What do you mean?”

Jayfeather shooed him back to his place with a flick of his tail. “Sit down and be quiet,” he ordered. “It’s not Leafpool’s duty to share ShadowClan’s news.” His blind gaze flashed toward the gathered cats.

As the ShadowClan warriors and apprentices slid am ong them, Rowanstar strode to the great oak and clim bed onto the branch beside Onestar. Onestar shot him a hostile glance and shifted away.

Bramblestar left Sparkpelt and hurried to the oak as Misty star heaved herself stiffly up the trunk and took her place beside Rowanstar. The m urm uring of the cats quieted as Bramblestar sat down and gazed toward them.

“We have good weather,” he observed, his gaze flicking toward the wide starry sky. “StarClan has blessed us.”

Rowanstar grunted dismissively. “ThunderClan cats always think they are blessed, even when they’re half-starved in leaf-bare.”

“It is not leaf-bare y et,” Misty star rem inded them. “We must be glad that prey is still running and the snows are not y et here.”

“Prey is always running in RiverClan,” Onestar sneered. “Or should I say swimming.”

“Not if the river freezes,” Misty star corrected him.

Alderpaw whisked his tail over the ground. Why were the leaders so prickly tonight?

Rowanstar stood and raised his tail. “ShadowClan has two new warriors,” he announced.

“Strikestone and Yarrowleaf.”

“Strikestone!”

“Yarrowleaf!”

The Clans cheered the names of ShadowClan’s new warriors. Their voices rang through the brittle night air.

Misty star raised her voice over them. “RiverClan has new warriors too. Shadepelt and Foxnose!”

Bramblestar called out. “And Sparkpaw is now Sparkpelt!”

“Shadepelt!”

“Foxnose!”

“Sparkpelt!”