Thunder And Shadow

“Twigpaw has hope. It’s a risk, but what if she’s right? We have to look.”

Poppy frost tipped her head thoughtfully. “But if Squirrelflight’s search party didn’t find her, how do you hope to?”

Ivy pool fluffed out her fur. The hollow was chilly where the sun hadn’t y et reached it.

“Twigpaw might notice som ething Squirrelflight’s party didn’t.”

Twigpaw felt a surge of gratitude toward her m entor. She was glad there was one cat in the Clan who believed in her. She scowled at the medicine den. She still resented Alderpaw for his part in ly ing about the quest to find her mother.

The brambles at the entrance twitched. Alderpaw padded out, a bundle of herbs in his jaws.

He crossed the clearing and dropped them in front of Twigpaw. “Jayfeather say s you and Ivy pool have to eat all of them.” He separated the pile into two.

“Fernsong’s coming with us,” Twigpaw told him. “He’ll need herbs too.”

“Fernsong?” Ivy pool j oined them, surprise lighting her eyes. “I thought we were going alone.”

“Squirrelflight just asked him,” Twigpaw told her happily. “You don’t m ind, do y ou? It’ll be like a real mission.”

“Of course I don’t m ind.” Ivy pool glanced warm ly at Fernsong as he headed toward them.

Alderpaw frowned. “It’ll be dangerous.”

Twigpaw sniffed. “You m ade the j ourney when you were younger than m e.”

“Yes.” Alderpaw looked thoughtful. Then his gaze brightened. “I should come with y ou!”

Twigpaw stared at him. “Why? You think m y mother’s dead.” Did he just want to come so he could say I told you so? Or did he want to justify stealing her from her nest before her mother could return? She pushed the thoughts away. Alderpaw wouldn’t do that.

“I know where the nest was.” As he gazed hopefully at Ivy pool, hope trem bled along

Twigpaw’s spine. He was right! He could lead them straight to it. Why hadn’t she thought of it before?

Ivy pool blinked at him. “It would be great to have you show us the way.”

Fernsong stopped beside her. “When are we leaving?”

“As soon as you and Alderpaw have gotten som e traveling herbs from Jayfeather,” Ivy pool told him. “We’ll have to make sure he’s all right with Alderpaw j oining us, too.”

“Alderpaw’s coming too?” Fernsong purred. “Great!” He headed for the medicine den, Alderpaw on his heels.

Ivy pool caught Twigpaw’s ey e. Her gaze was somber. Unease pricked Twigpaw’s belly. “You know we m ay not find any thing, right?” Ivy pool warned.

Twigpaw swallowed. “Yes.” But at least I’ll know I tried, she thought. I’ll know somebody tried. She reached down and lapped up the leaves, wrinkling her nose as their bitterness shriveled her tongue.

Ivy pool shuddered and licked her lips, finishing her pile. “Well, we’ll have plenty of energy.”

Fernsong and Alderpaw hurried from the nursery. Alderpaw looked pleased. “Jayfeather say s it’s all right for m e to go.”

Fernsong’s pelt was prickling. “Traveling herbs are the worst!” He stuck out his tongue.

Ivy pool purred and nudged him toward the entrance. “Hopefully they’ll give you enough strength to protect us. That is why y ou’re coming, isn’t it?” There was a tease in her mew.

Fernsong looked at her, whiskers twitching. “I was hoping y ou’d protect m e.”

“If y ou’re nice to m e, I might,” Ivy pool purred.

The warriors headed for the entrance, their pelts brushing am iably.

Twigpaw followed, feeling awkward beside Alderpaw. It had been so long since they’d spoken properly ; it would be weird traveling with him.

“How long will it take to get there?” she asked, avoiding his gaze.

“We should reach the Thunderpath tom orrow if we keep m oving.”

Twigpaw felt suddenly daunted. “Will we have to travel all night?”

“We’ll find som ewhere to rest tonight.” Alderpaw ducked through the entrance. “And if we wake early, we’ll be there before sunhigh tom orrow.”

Twigpaw followed. Half excited, half anxious, she followed Alderpaw up the rise that led toward the lake. The ground squelched beneath her paws. Newleaf warmth was slowly softening the forest. Green buds clung in a haze to the trees, and bey ond them stretched a pale blue sky.

“I hope we find her, Twigpaw.” Alderpaw’s mew was gentle as he waited for her to catch up.

She blinked at him and saw warmth in his eyes. He really means it. The anger that had sat like ice in her belly for a half-moon began to m elt. “So do I.”

Twigpaw’s paws ached as she followed Fernsong and Ivy pool from the trees. Since yesterday they’d crossed hills and m eadows, tracked rivers, and skirted Twoleg nests. They’d slept through the coldest part of the night in a sheltered hollow. Now, at last, they were close. She winced as bright sunlight bathed her face.

Alderpaw stopped beside her and nodded toward the bottom of the long slope in front of them.

A wide Thunderpath cut through the valley, snaking along the bottom like a stinking river. “We found you down there.”