Thunder And Shadow

As Needletail purred and pressed her m uzzle to Violetpaw’s cheek, Violetpaw breathed in her scent. It felt good. She turned her back on the entrance through which Rowanstar, Tigerheart, and Tawny pelt had disappeared and gazed at her new Clan.

Chapter 23

Twigpaw shifted her paws nervously. Countless scents washed over her, and the chatter of voices wasn’t helping to calm her anxiety. Would Violetpaw come to the Gathering? Guilt still pricked her belly each time she remembered leaving the ShadowClan camp, Violetpaw staring desperately after her.

Beside her, Wavepaw looked around. The RiverClan apprentice’s eyes were wide as she, Nightpaw, and Breezepaw took in the scene. “It’s our first Gathering.”

Honey paw sniffed. “I’ve been to plenty.”

Wavepaw’s sister shifted closer as Brindlepaw and Fernpaw padded toward them. “I didn’t realize there’d be so many cats here,” she breathed.

“Don’t worry, Cy presspaw.” Wavepaw nuzzled his sister’s ear. “There’s a truce, remember? We’re safe here.”

“Hello!” Brindlepaw stopped and blinked at Wavepaw. “You’re new, right?”

Wavepaw nodded.

Honey paw barged in front of him.

“I m et them first,” Honey paw boasted.

“So?” Brindlepaw glared at her.

Twigpaw swiveled her ears toward the long grass, hoping to hear paws hurry ing toward the clearing. WindClan, ThunderClan, and RiverClan were here. But where was ShadowClan? Were they going to be late again?

Bramblestar and Misty star were talking at the foot of the great oak. Onestar was already seated on the branch above them. His gaze was cast down, as though he was avoiding the eyes of the other Clans. Twigpaw wondered if he felt guilty for having withheld lungwort from ShadowClan.

Is that why they weren’t here? Were too many cats sick? The worry that had been nagging in Twigpaw’s belly since she’d left the ShadowClan camp suddenly hardened. What if Violetpaw was sick? She tried to push the thought away, but then she pictured her sister looking after her Clanmates in the medicine den. She could have easily caught the illness. Twigpaw remembered grim ly how sick the cats had been. Had Oakfur died? Or Wasptail? Or the others? What about Violetpaw?

Guilt surged through Twigpaw’s pelt as she remembered the hurt in her sister’s eyes when she’d left. I had to go! You are my kin, but ThunderClan is my home! She’d hoped for a chance to explain to Violetpaw that they would always be sisters even if they lived in different Clans, but what if she never got that chance?

She glanced at Alderpaw, who sat between Leafpool and Jayfeather. Would he go check on ShadowClan if they didn’t show up at the Gathering? Perhaps he’d let her go with him.

Honey paw’s mew broke into Twigpaw’s thoughts. “Wavepaw say s that RiverClan kits learn to swim before they become ’paws.”

“No way!” Brindlepaw exclaim ed. “Don’t they drown?”

Wavepaw snorted with am usem ent. “RiverClan cats are born to swim.”

Brindlepaw’s eyes widened. “I hate getting m y fur wet.”

Twigpaw gazed at them distractedly. She was only half listening. Her thoughts were still on her sister.

Honey paw blinked at the RiverClan apprentices. “I’ve never even stood in a river.”

Wavepaw shrugged. “You should try it,” she mewed. “Rivers are fun. And fish taste delicious.”

Cy presspaw looked shy ly at Honey paw. “We can teach you to swim if you like.”

Honey paw shuddered. “No, thanks!”

Wavepaw’s eyes sparkled with m ischief. “Are you scared?” He nodded toward the trees.

Bey ond them, the lake glittered in the moonlight.

Honey paw fluffed out her fur. “Of course not. But it’s too cold.”

“No it’s not!” Wavepaw headed through the crowd toward the trees. “Come on.”

Honey paw followed.

“You can’t!” Alarm j erked Twigpaw from her thoughts. She hurried after them. “The Gathering’s going to start in a m om ent.”

Honey paw stared at her. “But ShadowClan isn’t even here y et.”

As she spoke, Onestar’s mew rang across the clearing. “I’m tired of waiting. Let’s start the m eeting.”

Misty star and Bramblestar exchanged glances and scram bled up the oak, taking their places beside the WindClan leader.

Bramblestar’s gaze flicked toward the long grass, as though he was hoping that ShadowClan might appear. Then he blinked down at the Clans as the cats drew closer. “Newleaf has brought more prey and fine weather. ThunderClan has thrived.” He turned to Misty star, dipping his head.

“Prey is running well in RiverClan. And, as you see, we have two new apprentices, Wavepaw and Cy presspaw.”

The two young cats shifted self-consciously as the Clans turned to look at them.

As Onestar leaned forward, ready to address the gathered cats, the long grass rustled.