Thunder And Shadow

Dawnpelt nodded. “She wanted to speak with Violetpaw.”

Crowfrost’s gaze flashed warily to Violetpaw. “Why?”

Dawnpelt shook her head wearily. “Som e nonsense about their mother. Nothing im portant.”

Violetpaw saw Twigpaw draw herself up indignantly. She guessed Twigpaw was about to tell the ShadowClan deputy that her mother was very im portant. “I’m sorry,” Violetpaw butted in quickly. “It won’t happen again. Twigpaw m ade a m istake, that’s all.”

Scorchfur let out a low growl. “How do we know Violetpaw didn’t invite her here?” he snarled.

“Perhaps she’s planning to invite the rogues here next.”

“That’s not fair!” Violetpaw lashed her tail. She’d worked hard to be accepted. How could they distrust her so easily?

Twigpaw stepped forward, puffing out her chest. “My sister would never betray any one like that!”

Scorchfur scowled at the ThunderClan apprentice. “And y et y ou’re here.”

Crowfrost padded heavily across the clearing. “Clearly, these young cats have m ade a m istake. But there’s no harm done.” He looked sternly at Twigpaw. “You can’t come here to visit y our sister, understand? If you need to speak to her, wait for a Gathering. You m ay be kin, but y ou live in different Clans now.”

Twigpaw blinked at him anxiously. “But what if it’s im portant?”

“Then speak to Bramblestar about it,” he told her. “He’ll know the proper way to behave.”

Twigpaw hung her head. “I’m sorry,” she m urm ured.

Twigpaw’s sadness touched Violetpaw’s heart. She blinked sy m pathetically at her sister.

Twigpaw hadn’t meant any harm.

Crowfrost beckoned to Snowbird and Tigerheart with a flick of his tail. “Take this apprentice back to her Clan. Speak to Bramblestar and make sure he doesn’t let it happen again.”

Tigerheart nodded and headed toward Twigpaw. Snowbird followed at his heels.

“Wait!” Scorchfur’s growl m ade Violetpaw j um p.

Scorchfur padded across the clearing and stopped beside Crowfrost. “We have sick cats in our Clan,” he meowed. His gaze was sly.

Crowfrost narrowed his eyes. “Yes?”

“And we need WindClan to let us have the herb.”

Violetpaw’s paws prickled nervously as Scorchfur went on. What was the old fleabag up to?

“But WindClan won’t help us.” Scorchfur looked around his Clanmates meaningfully. “None of the Clans will help us. But perhaps we could use this opportunity to persuade them to help us.”

Dawnpelt looked confused. “How?”

Crowfrost’s gaze sharpened. “You mean we could persuade ThunderClan to help us.” He glanced pointedly at Twigpaw.

Violetpaw stepped forward, anxiety rippling thorough her fur. “What are you talking about?”

Was Twigpaw in danger?

Crowfrost must have seen her panic. “Don’t worry. No one is going to hurt y our sister. But she’s going to stay with us a while so that we can reason with Bramblestar.”

“A hostage?” Violetpaw gasped. “You’re going to use her as a hostage?”

Tawny pelt shifted her paws. “It makes sense, Violetpaw. ThunderClan and WindClan have always had a special relationship. ThunderClan has saved WindClan more than once. If we can’t persuade WindClan to give us the herb, perhaps ThunderClan can.”

“Given the right incentive.” Scorchfur’s eyes lit with m alice as he looked at Twigpaw.

Crowfrost flicked his tail. “I think Rowanstar would agree if he were well enough. No harm will come to Twigpaw while she’s with us.” He gazed around at his Clanmates. “She will be treated as one of our own. But she will rem ain here until WindClan gives us the lungwort.”

Violetpaw stared at Twigpaw, her belly tightening as she saw fear flash in her sister’s eyes. She hurried to stand beside her, letting her pelt brush Twigpaw’s. “It’s okay,” she whispered. “I won’t let any one hurt y ou. If Crowfrost say s y ou’ll be safe, y ou’ll be safe.”

Twigpaw blinked at her gratefully.

“Take her to y our den,” Crowfrost told Violetpaw. He nodded to Tigerheart. “Stand guard outside until dawn; then Tawny pelt can take over. Twigpaw must not be left alone while she’s with us.” He gave a warning stare to his Clanmates. “She is our best chance of securing the cure for this sickness. I will send a patrol to speak with Bramblestar in the m orning.”

Ripples of agreem ent sounded around the clearing. Violetpaw nudged Twigpaw toward the apprentices’ den. Twigpaw padded stiffly in front of her and ducked inside.

Violetpaw followed, relieved to be away from the eyes of her Clan. “I said you shouldn’t have come here!” Irritation prickled through her pelt as she stared at her sister. She felt sorry for Twigpaw’s predicam ent, but it was her own fault.

Twigpaw’s shoulders drooped. “What will Bramblestar say when the ShadowClan patrol tells him what’s happened? I’m such a m ouse-brain.”

She sounded so sad that Violetpaw’s anger m elted. She touched her nose to her sister’s cheek.

“You are a m ouse-brain,” she teased softly. “But y our heart is in the right place.”

Twigpaw leaned against her wearily.

“Come on.” Violetpaw nosed her into her nest. “You must be tired. Let’s get som e rest.”