SHADOWCLAN
LEADER ROWANSTAR—ginger tom
DEPUTY TIGERHEART—dark brown tabby tom
MEDICINE CAT PUDDLESHINE—brown tom with white splotches
WARRIORS (toms and she-cats without kits)
TAWNYPELT—tortoiseshell she-cat with green eyes
APPRENTICE, SNAKEPAW (honey-colored tabby she-cat)
JUNIPERCLAW—black tom
APPRENTICE, WHORLPAW (gray-and-white tom)
STRIKESTONE—brown tabby tom
STONEWING—white tom
GRASSHEART—pale brown tabby she-cat
SCORCHFUR—dark gray tom with slashed ears
APPRENTICE, FLOWERPAW (silver she-cat)
QUEENS (she-cats expecting or nursing kits)
SNOWBIRD—pure white she-cat with green eyes (mother to Gullkit, a white she-kit; Conekit, a white-and-gray tom; and Frondkit, a gray tabby she-kit)
ELDERS (former warriors and queens, now retired)
OAKFUR—small brown tom
RATSCAR—scarred, skinny dark brown tom
THUNDERCLAN
LEADER BRAMBLESTAR—dark brown tabby tom with amber eyes
DEPUTY SQUIRRELFLIGHT—dark ginger she-cat with green eyes and one white paw
MEDICINE CATS
LEAFPOOL—light brown tabby she-cat with amber eyes, white paws and chest
JAYFEATHER—gray tabby tom with blind blue eyes
ALDERHEART—dark ginger tom with amber eyes
WARRIORS
BRACKENFUR—golden-brown tabby tom
CLOUDTAIL—long-haired white tom with blue eyes
BRIGHTHEART—white she-cat with ginger patches
THORNCLAW—golden-brown tabby tom
WHITEWING—white she-cat with green eyes
BIRCHFALL—light brown tabby tom
BERRYNOSE—cream-colored tom with a stump for a tail
MOUSEWHISKER—gray-and-white tom
POPPYFROST—pale tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat
LIONBLAZE—golden tabby tom with amber eyes
ROSEPETAL—dark cream she-cat
BRIARLIGHT—dark brown she-cat, paralyzed in her hindquarters
LILYHEART—small, dark tabby she-cat with white patches, and blue eyes
BUMBLESTRIPE—very pale gray tom with black stripes
IVYPOOL—silver-and-white tabby she-cat with dark blue eyes
APPRENTICE, TWIGPAW (gray she-cat with green eyes)
DOVEWING—pale gray she-cat with green eyes
CHERRYFALL—ginger she-cat
MOLEWHISKER—brown-and-cream tom
SNOWBUSH—white, fluffy tom
AMBERMOON—pale ginger she-cat
DEWNOSE—gray-and-white tom
STORMCLOUD—gray tabby tom
HOLLYTUFT—black she-cat
FERNSONG—yellow tabby tom
SORRELSTRIPE—dark brown she-cat
LEAFSHADE—tortoiseshell she-cat
LARKSONG—black tom
HONEYFUR—white she-cat with yellow splotches
SPARKPELT—orange tabby she-cat
QUEENS
DAISY—cream long-furred cat from the horseplace
CINDERHEART—gray tabby she-cat
BLOSSOMFALL—tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat with petal-shaped white patches (mother to Stemkit, a white-and-orange tom-kit; Eaglekit, a ginger she-kit; Plumkit, a black-and-ginger she-kit; and Shellkit, a white she-kit)
ELDERS
GRAYSTRIPE—long-haired gray tom
MILLIE—striped silver tabby she-cat with blue eyes
WINDCLAN
LEADER HARESTAR—brown-and-white tom
DEPUTY CROWFEATHER—dark gray tom
APPRENTICE, FERNPAW (gray tabby she-cat)
MEDICINE CAT KESTRELFLIGHT—mottled gray tom with white splotches like kestrel feathers
WARRIORS
BREEZEPELT—black tom with amber eyes
NIGHTCLOUD—black she-cat
APPRENTICE, BRINDLEPAW (mottled brown she-cat)
GORSETAIL—very pale gray-and-white she-cat with blue eyes
LEAFTAIL—dark tabby tom with amber eyes
EMBERFOOT—gray tom with two dark paws
APPRENTICE, SMOKEPAW (gray she-cat)
LARKWING—pale brown tabby she-cat
SEDGEWHISKER—light brown tabby she-cat
SLIGHTFOOT—black tom with white flash on his chest
OATCLAW—pale brown tabby tom
FEATHERPELT—gray tabby she-cat
HOOTWHISKER—dark gray tom
HEATHERTAIL—light brown tabby she-cat with blue eyes
ELDERS
WHITETAIL—small white she-cat
RIVERCLAN
LEADER MISTYSTAR—gray she-cat with blue eyes
DEPUTY REEDWHISKER—black tom
MEDICINE CATS
MOTHWING—dappled golden she-cat
WILLOWSHINE—gray tabby she-cat
WARRIORS
MINTFUR—light gray tabby tom
APPRENTICE, SOFTPAW (gray she-cat)
DUSKFUR—brown tabby she-cat
APPRENTICE, DAPPLEPAW (gray-and-white tom)
MINNOWTAIL—dark gray she-cat
APPRENTICE, BREEZEPAW (brown-and-white she-cat)
MALLOWNOSE—light brown tabby tom
BEETLEWHISKER—brown-and-white tabby tom
APPRENTICE, HAREPAW (white tom)
CURLFEATHER—pale brown she-cat
PODLIGHT—gray-and-white tom
HERONWING—dark gray-and-black tom
SHIMMERPELT—silver she-cat
APPRENTICE, NIGHTPAW (dark gray she-cat with blue eyes)
LIZARDTAIL—light brown tom
HAVENPELT—black-and-white she-cat
SNEEZECLOUD—gray-and-white tom
BRACKENPELT—tortoiseshell she-cat
APPRENTICE, GORSEPAW (white tom with gray ears)
JAYCLAW—gray tom
OWLNOSE—brown tabby tom
ICEWING—white she-cat with blue eyes
ELDERS
MOSSPELT—tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat
SKYCLAN
LEADER LEAFSTAR—brown-and-cream tabby she-cat with amber eyes
DEPUTY HAWKWING—dark gray tom with yellow eyes
WARRIORS
SPARROWPELT—dark brown tabby tom
MACGYVER—black-and-white tom
APPRENTICE, DEWPAW (sturdy gray tom)
PLUMWILLOW—dark gray she-cat
SAGENOSE—pale gray tom
HARRYBROOK—gray tom
BLOSSOMHEART—ginger-and-white she-cat
APPRENTICE, FINPAW (brown tom)
SANDYNOSE—stocky light brown tom with ginger legs
RABBITLEAP—brown tom
APPRENTICE, VIOLETPAW (black and white she-cat with yellow eyes)
BELLALEAF—pale orange she-cat with green eyes
APPRENTICE, REEDPAW (small tabby she-cat)
QUEENS
TINYCLOUD—small white she-cat (mother to Quailkit, a tom with crow-black ears; Pigeonkit, a gray-and-white she-kit; and Sunnykit, a ginger she-kit)
ELDERS
FALLOWFERN—pale brown she-cat who has lost her hearing
PROLOGUE
The black tom had had this dream before. It was a dream of a forest, one that he had never visited in his waking life, and whose silence was unnerving to a cat who had grown up surrounded by Thunderpaths. As the dream took shape around him, he felt pine needles beneath his paws, and musty scents filled his nose. A thick bramble wall enclosed the clearing he stood in. It was swollen here and there by dens that seemed to have been woven into it. Cats squeezed in and out of them. Some crossed the clearing; some stopped to talk to one another; others padded eagerly toward a pile of prey at the far end, sometimes walking right by the black tom as if they didn't see him. Because they didn't. He wasn't really there. He'd seen these same cats each time he visited the dream, and he was learning to recognize their pelts. Now a brown tom with white splotches and light blue eyes carried a bundle of fragrant-smelling leaves toward one of the dens. A skinny old tom slid out to greet him. "I'm glad you've come." The old cat nudged him inside. "He's been coughing all night." At the other side of the clearing, a tortoiseshell she-cat murmured anxiously to a large ginger tom. A pure white she-cat watched, her pelt ruffled. Behind them, three young cats shifted their paws uneasily. The dreaming tom pricked his ears. These cats have never been this worried in their lives . . . and they don't know what to do. Anxiety was fluttering in his belly. Why did he dream of this place? What did it mean? As he wondered this, the forest blurred around him. The ground seemed to shift beneath his paws; then suddenly it fell away, and he swirled into darkness. Stars spun around him until, with a jolt, he felt solid ground beneath his paws again. Soft green meadows rolled away from him on every side. Above him, a wide blue sky stretched to the distant horizon. More cats. The dreaming tom blinked as he saw ranks of cats lined before him, their pelts sparkling with starlight and their eyes flashing eagerly. They were staring straight at him. His belly tightened with alarm. "How . . . how can you see me?" A black she-cat stepped forward and dipped her head. Her fur was sleek, her frame well-muscled, as though she'd never known the hardships of hunger or cold. "Don't be frightened," she told him softly. "We mean you no harm." A broad-shouldered dark tabby tom joined her. "We need you to do something for us." "What can I do?" The dreaming tom stared at her. "I'm not like you cats. . . ." "You take care of those around you, don't you?" the black she-cat asked. "I do what I can to ease their illness and heal their wounds." The she-cat blinked slowly. "A cat who cares for others is special to us," she mewed. "That is why we chose you to be our messenger." "Strangers will come to your home," the broad-shouldered tabby chimed in. "They will need your help, just as we need it." Puzzled, the dreaming tom frowned. "And you need me to give them a message?" "Not exactly," the black cat meowed quickly. "But let these strangers guide your paws." The dreaming tom's gaze drifted past the she-cat to the starry cats gathered behind her. Their eyes were fixed on him, burning with need. He backed away, his heart quickening. Why had they chosen him? "I don't understand." "Please!" The black she-cat's mew was tinged with fear. "If you don't help . . ." Then her voice trailed away, and the vision of the starry cats and meadows began to dissolve into darkness. In its place the dreaming tom saw the forest clearing once more. But the bramble walls were torn, the dens ripped open. The tortoiseshell she-cat lay at the head of the clearing, blood oozing from wounds scarring her pelt. The three young cats he'd seen stumbled past. One collapsed, a gash showing across his belly. The old tom lay panting beside shredded branches. A brown cat was sitting nearby, so thin that his bones showed though his thin pelt. His pale blue eyes stared desolately at the fallen cats as though he were frozen to stone by their suffering. With a jolt, the dreaming tom woke. The first thing he felt was the weight of the small tom-kit sleeping in the curve of his belly. He lifted his head and blinked into the darkness, his heart pounding. The kit whimpered and twitched, clearly having a dream of his own. He wondered, just for a moment, if it was a similar dream. "Rest, little one." The tom leaned down and soothed the kit with a soft lap of his tongue. His dream lingered, unsettling him. If you don't help . . . The black she-cat's frightened words stuck in his mind. He tried to tell himself it was just a meaningless voice in his head. And yet he couldn't shake the feeling that it was important. . . . He'd dreamed of the brambled clearing before, but his dream had never shifted to the dark place of starry cats. He wondered if it meant something. As the kit quieted and relaxed once more into deep sleep, the tom stared into the shadowy night. Dreams are just dreams. He tried to dismiss it. But this dream had felt too real to be ignored.
CHAPTER 1
Worry pricked at Tigerheart's paws as he bounded between the pines, moving so fast he barely caught their scent. I have to reach Dovewing. . . . He leaped over ragged roots, his tail slapping against tree trunks and his legs battering the long grass. His pelt prickled with anticipation, and his belly fur tingled with nerves. He always grew tense when he got too far away from ShadowClan. It was still struggling to rebuild itself in the aftermath of the rogue leader Darktail's meddling—first tempting away its younger members, then challenging Rowanstar for the leadership. ShadowClan had turned on its leader and chosen to follow the rogue. Rowanstar, Tawnypelt, and Tigerheart had abandoned the camp to Darktail and his "Kin," and Darktail had proved himself even more brutal and vicious than Tigerheart could ever have imagined. Many ShadowClan cats had died or gone missing. Then RiverClan suffered as Darktail took his war to them. Eventually, all of the Clans joined together in fighting back, but even now, Tigerheart could not let himself relax. He was constantly worried that danger was out there somewhere. Today, though, his biggest worry was that Dovewing wouldn't wait for him. He skidded down the slippery rise and jumped a ditch. The sun was starting to sink. I miss her. I got too used to seeing her every day, he admitted to himself. When Darktail's rogues had driven them from their Clan, Tigerheart, Rowanstar, and Tawnypelt had sought sanctuary with ThunderClan. Living beside Dovewing every day, he'd felt the love he'd once tried to leave behind flaring anew. At first she'd kept her distance, but he knew that her old feelings had been stirred, just as his had been. And when they were sent on a quest to find Twigpaw, they grew closer than they'd ever been. After ShadowClan had reclaimed its old territory, they'd made an agreement to meet—whenever they could—in the dappled glade on SkyClan land, just beyond the place where the ShadowClan and ThunderClan borders touched. Tigerheart knew he was being disloyal to his Clan. He had told Rowanstar that he was going to patrol the border, and instead he was meeting Dovewing. The lie still felt sour on his tongue. Dishonesty was the last thing his Clan needed right now. Rowanstar had lost confidence in his leadership, and with so few cats, the whole Clan was stretched to its limit just keeping up hunting patrols and border patrols, let alone fortifying the camp against harsh leaf-bare weather. Food was scarce, and the shattered dens were still not ready for the first snow. Rowanstar needed his support now more than ever. Tigerheart had been trying his best to restore his Clan's confidence by backing up his father's decisions and setting an example for his Clanmates, as their deputy. But the strain of such responsibility was tiring. Being with Dovewing let him forget his troubles for a while. With her, there was no need to carry the weight of his Clan. He could let the burden slip from his shoulders and simply be himself. Once he reached her, the anxious tingling in his paws would disappear. Ears pricked, he rounded a bramble patch and crossed a stretch of withered ferns. His heart quickened as he imagined Dovewing scanning the forest, hoping to catch a glimpse of him. A purr rumbled in his throat. He was nearly there, the misty forest air slicking his pelt. Please still be waiting! He raced up the slope to where the trees thinned. Ahead, sunshine seeped through the mist and lit the sheltered glade. Beyond the bracken he saw pale gray fur. His heart soared. Dovewing. Two days apart had been too long. He crashed through the damp undergrowth and scrambled to a halt beside her.Her eyes flashed with relief. "You came." Dovewing thrust her muzzle into his neck fur. She was trembling, and he thought he could hear a note of worry in her mew. She was silent so long, apprehension spiked through Tigerheart's fur. "Did some cat find out about us?" "No." Dovewing's ears twitched nervously. "What is it, then?" Tigerheart stared at her blankly. What could be so bad that she couldn't find the words? "Something's wrong. I can tell. . . ." Have you stopped loving me? He braced himself. "I'm expecting kits." Kits? Shock numbed him. "Mine?" He wasn't thinking straight. "Of course yours!" Fury flared in Dovewing's eyes. She lifted a paw to bat at his muzzle. He barely felt it. He was too shocked by what she'd said. Kits . . . our kits! He took a deep breath to gather himself—the last thing Dovewing needed was him gawking at thin air. "That was a dumb thing to say. I'm sorry. You just . . . took me by surprise." Then the tingling of joy he'd been starting to feel began to fade. "Have you told Ivypool?" Dovewing had always been close to her sister. "Ivypool barely talks to me these days. I think she suspects I'm seeing you." She stared at the ground, her eyes full of sadness. Alarm rippled through Tigerheart's pelt, and his breath quickened. How could they hide their relationship now? What would this secret do to ShadowClan? It was already so fragile. Cats were bound to take sides in a scandal like this. And the fallout might destroy the uneasy peace that had passed for unity since the rogues had left. He saw the expectation in Dovewing's gaze shrink to disappointment as he stared at her wordlessly. His thoughts were spinning, but he had no idea what to say. She looked away. "This makes things so much harder, doesn't it?" Tigerheart shook his head. Having kits with Dovewing was something he'd dreamed of, and yet . . . "It's bad timing, Dovewing. Our warriors are losing respect for Rowanstar. And they keep looking at me, like I'm supposed to take his place." "Is that what you want?" Dovewing stared at him with wide eyes. Tigerheart shifted his paws, trying to find the right words. "ShadowClan is weaker than it's ever been. They need a leader they can believe in." Dovewing inhaled sharply. "And that leader has to be you?" "I don't know." Tigerheart stared at the grass beneath his feet. "I'm trying to support Rowanstar, but that might not be enough." "What about me?" Dovewing's mew caught in her throat. "What about us?" Tigerheart felt his heart breaking. There must be an us. I've struggled too long without you . . . "I love you, Dovewing. I will always love you. We can sort this out, I promise." Raising his head, he cleared away the choking thoughts of Clanmates and responsibility and gazed at Dovewing. He could see her belly growing already and imagined the tiny kits inside. A purr broke from his throat. Our kits. He weaved around her, letting his purr throb through his whole body and hers. "Our kits will be beautiful and brave. They will grow into fine warriors." As he spoke, hope flickered in his chest. Perhaps this was meant to be—perhaps these new kits would help restore ShadowClan to its former strength. "You can join ShadowClan with me. We could be together. There would be no more hiding or lying, and we could bring up our kits in the same Clan." It seemed the perfect solution. His belly tingled with apprehension, but he hoped that she would be excited about raising their shared kin in the pine forest. It might take her a little while to get used to ShadowClan's ways, but she'd be so well cared for, he knew she could be happy there. He knew they could be happy there. His thoughts were tumbling so fast over one another, he hardly felt her freeze. Only when he pressed his muzzle against her cheek did he realize that she'd become as stiff as stone. "I can't do that." She stared at the ground, defeat heavy in her gaze. "I know it will be hard, but Dovewing, it might be the best thing for the kits." Tigerheart tried to catch her eye. "The best thing for us." And for ShadowClan. Slowly she lifted her gaze. Fear shimmered in her eyes. "I wish I could believe that," she began haltingly. "But . . . I've been having dreams." "Dreams?" Tigerheart struggled to understand. Dovewing wasn't a medicine cat. She'd lost her special powers moons ago when the Dark Forest had been beaten. "All cats have dreams." "Not like these." Dovewing's gaze glittered unnervingly. Whatever she was about to say, she believed strongly. "These dreams mean something. I can feel it." Tigerheart's pelt prickled with alarm. "Are they . . . bad dreams?" "I dream of the ThunderClan nursery. I'm alone in the camp, and I'm watching the nursery from the clearing. Something feels wrong, so I go to look inside." The fur along her spine lifted as she remembered. "It's empty. The nests are old and tattered, and shadows are creeping from the corners. They swallow the floor and the nests. I run outside, but the shadows follow. They reach through the entrance like dark flames and lick the walls, growing darker and stronger until the whole nursery is lost in blackness." As she spoke, Tigerheart felt like he could see everything she described, so clearly. He had to shake his head to chase the images out of his head. "It's just a dream," he told her, not sure if he believed it himself. Dovewing drew away. "But it's not!" Her mew was taut with fear. "I have it again and again, and every time I do, I wake up filled with dread because I know it's a sign." Tigerheart blinked at her. The fear in her eyes was real, but he tried to tell himself it was just because she'd been worrying about this by herself for so long. She could share the worry with him now. "Have you asked Jayfeather or Alderheart about it?" "How could I?" Dovewing lashed her tail. "They might guess." She glared down at her swelling flanks. "I've been expecting for a moon and it's starting to show. They may have already guessed I'm expecting kits. Telling them I'm having dreams about the nursery will just confirm it!" Tigerheart tried to make his voice sound bright. "If a medicine cat believes that nursery dreams are normal, perhaps they are." "Not like this!" Dovewing hissed. "Well, you could ask them if they've had any signs from StarClan." Tigerheart was starting to feel exasperated. Why was Dovewing so sure her dreams were special? "Maybe they've had a sign that will explain your dream. They're medicine cats, after all. You aren't." "I don't need a medicine cat to explain my dream!" Dovewing's eyes flashed with frustration. "I know what it means. It means our kits mustn't be born in ThunderClan!" Tigerheart fluffed out his pelt eagerly. "So . . . maybe you're meant to join ShadowClan! That's great. I know you'll be happy with us. Don't worry about any cat's reaction, either. No cat has time right now to get mad at having a ThunderClan cat in camp. And if we bring new kits, new life, to ShadowClan, then every cat will be happy, because we'll be making ShadowClan stronger." "No." Dovewing glowered at him. "I'm not raising our kits in ShadowClan. Believe me, I've thought about that, and I know it's what you want, but . . . That's not what's right for us either." Tigerheart forced his pelt to smooth. Neither ThunderClan nor ShadowClan? What, then, was she thinking about? Dovewing's mew was firm. "We have to leave the Clans." Stunned, Tigerheart stared at her wordlessly. Leave the Clans? "We have to." Dovewing dug her paws into the earth. "I've dreamed where we should go. A huge Twolegplace with nests that reach into the sky. I saw a roof there with sharp points that stick up into the sky like gorse spines. We must find that den. Our kits will be safe there." Tigerheart's pelt bristled with anger. "This is nonsense!" He met her gaze. "Why would our kits be safer in a strange Twolegplace? How can we raise them away from their Clans? Our Clans are what keep us all safe!" Dovewing narrowed her eyes. "The Clans are a mess! So many cats have died fighting for territory lately, who's to say there will even be Clans a few moons from now?" "So you want us to run away?" Tigerheart could hardly believe this was happening. "You want to abandon your Clanmates? You want to bring up our kits so they never know their kin or the warrior code?" "No!" Desperation sharpened Dovewing's mew. "I don't want any of this! I just know we must go. The dreams come every night. I don't just see them; I feel them. If I ignore what they tell me, I fear that something terrible will happen to our kits!" Tigerheart turned in an anxious circle, his thoughts fighting one another. "This isn't a choice for me." Dovewing's mew hardened. "It's what I must do." Tigerheart felt sick. "I can't just leave." Dovewing's eyes were stricken with panic. Tigerheart looked away. His forepaws twitched, as if ready to walk with her as far away from here as she wanted to go. But his hindquarters felt heavy, like they wanted to pin him to the ground so that he could never leave ShadowClan. He yearned to be with her, but he was afraid to abandon his father when things were so terrible. It made him feel like his body might be torn in two. "Tigerheart!" She sounded anxious. He felt her breath on his cheek and forced himself to look at her. "I don't want to do this without you, Tigerheart!" Her mew was shaky. "I need you." "ShadowClan needs me," Tigerheart mewed desperately. "Rowanstar can't lead without my help. You're right—ShadowClan's a mess. If I leave, it may not survive." "Then stay!" Dovewing's green eyes flashed with rage. "If your Clan is more important to you than your kits, stay with them. I'm going." She backed away from him, grief twisting her face. "My Clan can look after itself. I'm protecting my kits." "Dovewing!" Desperation spiked Tigerheart's pelt. "We'll be better able to protect our kits if we stay with our Clans."She held his gaze. "I'm leaving in three days. If you want to leave with me, meet me here. If not, I . . ." Her tail bushed, and she looked at the ground briefly. Whatever she had to tell him next seemed hard for her to say. "I will go without you." Then she turned and pushed her way through the undergrowth. Tigerheart stared after her, his heart beating so loudly in his ears that it drowned the sound of birdsong. A gust of wind sent the mist swirling among the trees and rocked their branches. He felt dizzy. Dovewing had given him an impossible choice. She needed him. His unborn kits needed him. But so did ShadowClan. Who needs me the most?
CHAPTER 2
Can I leave? Should I stay? Two days had passed since Dovewing's ultimatum, and still Tigerheart's thoughts chased around his head like kittens trying to catch their own tails. He had one more day to make up his mind, but the right decision felt like a piece of prey he just could not catch. What am I going to do? "Tigerheart?" Grassheart's mew shook him from his thoughts. He turned his gaze distractedly toward her and found the pale brown tabby blinking at him. "We're supposed to be hunting, right?" Irritation edged her mew. "Yes." Tigerheart shook out his pelt. "Sorry. I was thinking about something else." "Think later. Our Clanmates are hungry." Grassheart sniffed and cast her sharp gaze around the forest. "We need to take something back to the fresh-kill pile. Have you noticed the way Ratscar's ribs are sticking through his pelt?" Guilt dropped like another stone in Tigerheart's belly. His Clanmates were hungry. Dovewing was expecting kits. His father was struggling to regain the respect of their Clan. He should be able to fix everything, but he couldn't even focus on catching prey. Snowbird's white pelt showed between the withering ferns a few tail-lengths away. The she-cat was sniffing the pine-strewn earth. "I think I've picked up a rabbit trail." Grassheart hurried to her side. "How fresh is it?" "Fresh enough." Snowbird began to creep away from the ferns, her tail-tip twitching with excitement. As Grassheart shadowed her, Tigerheart glanced toward the SkyClan border. He could smell their scent where it marked the pines at the top of the rise. Had he made the right decision when he suggested SkyClan should take some of ShadowClan's land? There might be more prey if they had more space to hunt. And yet how could they spare the cats needed to cover so much territory? He flicked his tail. It had been the right thing to do. SkyClan needed a home. And after all the problems the Clans had had with the rogues, maybe StarClan would look favorably on cats who spread kindness where there had been fear and mistrust. He just wished his Clanmates thought the same. But Scorchfur, Snowbird, and Stonewing had made it clear that they were not going to pretend they were content to give up land to another Clan. Tigerheart closed his eyes as fresh worries crowded his thoughts. Above him, thrushes sounded like they were having their own arguments over territory. A cold wind rustled the branches. Grassheart and Snowbird were out of sight now, tracking the rabbit. As Tigerheart turned to follow them, paw steps thrummed at the top of the rise. "Hey, Tigerheart!" Sandynose stood at the SkyClan border, Rabbitleap beside him. Their pelts were ruffled and their eyes bright. Sandynose's flanks heaved. "The squirrels in this forest are fast!" He glanced at the trunk of the pine beside him. A tail bobbed upward and disappeared among the branches. Rabbitleap dipped his head politely to Tigerheart. "I hope you're having better luck than us." "Not yet," Tigerheart mewed heavily. Did luck have anything to do with it? Perhaps if he were a better warrior, he'd be able to feed his Clan single-pawed. If he were a better son, Rowanstar wouldn't be so overwhelmed by leadership. If he were a better mate— Small paws thumped the ground. Grassheart's urgent mew sounded through the trees. "Prey!" Tigerheart stiffened as a rabbit raced past him, shooting up the rise so fast he didn't have time to untangle himself from his thoughts and give chase. It hared across the border, a tail-length from Sandynose.The SkyClan tom ran after it. Pelt bristling with excitement, Rabbitleap raced after him. Tigerheart froze. He'd let prey fall into another Clan's paws. "You mouse-brain!" Grassheart thundered to a halt beside him. "Why didn't you catch it?" Snowbird caught up to them, eyes sparking with anger. "We drove it straight toward you!" She shot a look at Grassheart. "I thought Rowanstar was the unreliable one." "Like father, like son," Grassheart snorted crossly. "That's not fair!" Tigerheart shot back. "Rowanstar could outhunt any of you, and I was distracted—" He realized the two she-cats had stopped listening. They were looking up the deserted slope. Their noses twitched. "I smell SkyClan." Snowbird curled her lip at Tigerheart. "Is that what distracted you? Were there SkyClan cats here?" "I was talking to Sandynose and Rabbitleap," Tigerheart confessed. He wished that was all that had been distracting him. Grassheart frowned as she stared at the churned pine needles where the rabbit had scrambled to the top of the slope. "And you let our prey run right into their paws," she growled. Irritation rippled beneath Tigerheart's pelt. He'd had enough of trying to persuade his Clanmates that having SkyClan as neighbors would make them safer, not weaker. He was tired of making excuses for Rowanstar. He was tired of chasing prey that preferred other Clans' land. Maybe I should leave with Dovewing! Dovewing made him happy. She needed him, and so did their kits. And he loved her. Pine needles swished at the top of the rise. Sandynose and Rabbitleap appeared at the border. The fat rabbit Tigerheart had missed was dangling from Sandynose's jaws. Snowbird hissed, her eyes glittering with fury. "Have you come to gloat with our prey?" Sandynose tossed the dead rabbit down the slope. "We came to return it." He glared haughtily at the white she-cat. Snowbird bristled. "We don't need you to hunt for us!" Tigerheart caught her eye, warning her to be quiet. When a Clan was hungry, pride was sometimes worth swallowing. Grassheart padded toward the rabbit and glanced back at Snowbird. "Ratscar will be grateful for the meal." Snowbird narrowed her eyes. Tigerheart looked at her expectantly. Surely she could smell the warmth of its blood? Wasn't she hungry enough to accept SkyClan's kindness? Tigerheart's belly ached with hunger. He hadn't eaten since sunhigh yesterday. Grassheart turned her gaze to him. "We should take it." Tigerheart nodded. "It would have been our catch if I'd been quicker." As Snowbird growled under her breath, Grassheart dipped her head to Sandynose and Rabbitleap. "It was kind of you to return the prey." Sandynose bowed stiffly and turned away. Wordlessly, the SkyClan warriors padded from the border. Snowbird sniffed. "They're almost as smug as ThunderClan." "They were being generous," Grassheart pointed out. Tigerheart's pelt prickled hotly. Another Clan had killed prey that he should have caught. He tried to ignore his shame. At least this was a chance to persuade Snowbird that giving SkyClan their land had been a good idea. "We're lucky to have such honorable warriors close by." Snowbird headed back toward the ferns, her tail twitching. "Only you could see luck in losing half our territory," she grumbled. Grassheart rolled her eyes at him. "She'll be fine once she sees Ratscar eating this." She scooped up the rabbit and headed toward home. Tigerheart scanned the clearing as he led Grassheart and Snowbird into camp. "Where's Ratscar?" he called to Whorlpaw, who was sharing tongues with Flowerpaw at the edge. There was no sign of the skinny elder. Whorlpaw looked up. "He's doing border patrol with Juniperclaw." Tigerheart blinked. Elders weren't supposed to go on border patrol. Scorchfur was at the fresh-kill pile. "I offered to take his place, but he said there were so few cats in ShadowClan now, he should help." His gaze flicked to the rabbit Grassheart was carrying. "Nice catch." He looked hopefully at Snowbird. "Any more where that came from?" "We'll go out again soon," Tigerheart promised. He glanced at Rowanstar and Tawnypelt at the head of the clearing. They were talking, their pelts prickling anxiously. Shouldn't they be leading a hunting patrol? Talking wasn't going to save the Clan. The bramble entrance rustled. Tigerheart turned, surprised to see Juniperclaw leading Willowshine and Alderheart into the camp. He pricked his ears. It was strange to have the ThunderClan medicine cat here, even stranger to see RiverClan's. Mistystar had been determined to restore her Clan's strength and had decided, after the last Gathering, that she should close its borders. So why was Willowshine roaming outside her territory? Ratscar followed them in, his mangy old pelt rippling with unease. Tigerheart sat down in the shadow of the rock and watched the two medicine cats approach Rowanstar. They looked worried. Did they bring news from StarClan? Perhaps they'd had a vision as ominous as Dovewing's dreams. Perhaps Alderheart had noticed that she was expecting kits. He searched the ThunderClan tom's gaze, looking for a sign that Alderheart knew more than he should, but Alderheart was staring at Rowanstar as Willowshine spoke. "I've had a vision. We need to find a cat with an extra claw," she told the ShadowClan leader. "It's the only way to fend off the coming storm." "Do you know any cats with six toes?" Alderheart leaned forward, his gaze fixing more intently on Rowanstar. No visions of shadows swallowing the ThunderClan nursery. No hint that Dovewing was expecting kits. Tigerheart's thoughts drifted. Should I be relieved? If the medicine cats hadn't shared Dovewing's dream, maybe she was wrong. This new prophecy about a six-toed cat might be enough to show her that her dream was just a dream. If it was something more, then StarClan would have shared it with the medicine cats, not just her. Scorchfur's sharp mew hooked him from his thoughts. "How can we send out a search party? We have barely enough cats to patrol our borders." Rowanstar dipped his head in agreement. "The SkyClan border can't be left unguarded." Anxiety pricked Tigerheart's belly. How could he leave a Clan that didn't even have enough cats for a search party? There must be some way to persuade Dovewing to stay. He pictured meeting her at sunset tomorrow. What could he say to make her see that they would be safer raising kits with their Clans, beside the lake? And yet he couldn't shake the worry that maybe she was right: Darktail had nearly destroyed them. Perhaps the Clans were no longer strong enough to protect their kits. An angry hiss jerked him from his thoughts. Scorchfur and Tawnypelt were facing each other, eyes blazing with fury. "Why do you think we chose a rogue over Rowanstar?" Scorchfur snarled. "He was a weak leader then; he's a weak leader now." Tawnypelt's fur bushed. Spitting, she sliced her claws across her Clanmate's muzzle. Tigerheart froze. What was happening? Why was his Clan fighting itself? As he watched, Scorchfur swung his claws at Tawnypelt's face. Tawnypelt ducked away, yowling with pain. Her eye! Panic sparked Tigerheart into action. With a yowl, he threw himself between the fighting cats. He shoved Scorchfur away from Tawnypelt and shielded her, hissing. Rowanstar stared, his gaze stricken with shock. Tigerheart turned to face Tawnypelt. "Are you okay?" He gasped at the blood welling beside his mother's eye. He felt fur brush his flank as Puddleshine slid in beside him and gently eased him out of the way. What in StarClan had they been fighting about? Dazed with shock, Tigerheart turned. Alderheart and Willowshine were hurrying out of camp. Scorchfur had backed to the edge of the clearing. Rowanstar stared at the dark gray tom with undisguised contempt. "How can we trust a Clanmate who turns on his own so easily?" Scorchfur glared back at him. "How can we trust a leader who gives up on his Clan at the first sign of threat?" Tigerheart's gaze flitted from the two toms back to his mother. Puddleshine was quickly lapping the blood beside her eye. "It's only a flesh wound," he reassured her. "Your vision won't be harmed." Relief swept Tigerheart as Puddleshine led Tawnypelt toward the medicine den. He could hardly believe that one Clanmate had tried to blind another. Nothing could be further from the warrior code. He'd known tensions had been running high, but how had it come to this? I should have stopped it. If his thoughts hadn't been wrapped up in Dovewing, he might have prevented his Clanmates turning on one another. Instead I was worrying about whether I should leave my Clan. Guilt choked him. He pictured Dovewing, waiting, frightened and alone, carrying their kits. Love seemed to tear his heart into two; the pain left him breathless. "Tigerheart." Puddleshine was padding toward him, Rowanstar at his heels. "Is Tawnypelt all right?" Tigerheart met his gaze anxiously. Puddleshine nodded. "She's in my den. I put herbs on the wound. She's resting. But I must speak with you and your father." Tigerheart frowned. "Why?" The medicine cat's gaze moved from father to son, dark with warning. "There's something I must share with both of you."
CHAPTER 3
Tigerheart glanced uneasily around the camp. Was there time to talk with Puddleshine? The fight between Scorchfur and Tawnypelt must have shocked the Clan. Perhaps they should be reassuring their Clanmates instead. "Snakepaw." Strikestone waved the apprentice closer with a flick of his tail. "Come with me. We're going hunting." He was clearly trying to divert her attention from her mentor Tawnypelt's injury, and the tensions within the Clan. The honey-brown tabby she-cat looked at him eagerly. "Can Whorlpaw and Flowerpaw come?" Strikestone turned to their mentors, Juniperclaw and Scorchfur. "We can hunt together. The fresh-kill pile needs filling, and the youngsters can practice hunting in groups." He eyed Scorchfur warily, as though worried the dark gray tom was still enraged enough to claw at his Clanmates' eyes. But Scorchfur dipped his head and grunted. "Okay." He beckoned Whorlpaw toward the entrance with a flick of his muzzle, then padded after him as he headed into the forest. Flowerpaw and Snakepaw exchanged glances, then followed, Juniperclaw at their heels, Strikestone just behind him. Tigerheart stepped toward the brown tabby tom. "Thank you," he purred. Strikestone dipped his head. "Don't mention it," he said, before joining the others on their way out of camp. Tigerheart watched them go, enjoying the feeling of his anxiety draining away. It was good to see the warriors working together to diffuse the tension and keep the apprentices busy. Rowanstar hadn't even seemed to notice. He was staring at Puddleshine. "What do you want to tell us?" As Puddleshine lifted his chin, Tigerheart remembered suddenly how young the medicine cat was. In the moons since he'd earned his medicine-cat name, the young tom had seen so much. They all had. It was easy to forget that Puddleshine had been trained by Leafpool from kit to full medicine cat in little more than a moon. And yet Tigerheart trusted him now as much as he'd once trusted Littlecloud. He could see earnestness in the young tom's pale blue eyes as Puddleshine began to speak. "I had a vision this morning. I was watching the camp as it woke. The rising sun cut through the branches and sent long shadows over our Clanmates as they climbed out of their dens and began to move around the clearing. As I watched them padding in and out of the shadows, the sun seemed to strengthen. I could see it beyond the forest, growing fiery, and, as it did, the shadows in the camp became longer, darker—" "Are you sure this was a vision?" Rowanstar looked puzzled. "It sounds like any other sunrise." Puddleshine gave a slow nod. "The sun shone intensely," he breathed. "As though, at any moment, the whole forest might catch fire. And the shadows were so dark, it looked as though night had cut swaths through the camp. Between the shadows, the sunlight was blinding. Not like dawn light. It was so bright, I had to turn away." He stopped, shifted his paws. "Then, suddenly, the sun dimmed. It faded beyond the trees and became so weak that it seemed to melt into the pale dawn sky. As it did, the shadows faded. The fierce stripes that had marked the clearing dissolved until no trace of shadow was left in camp. For a moment, the whole forest was awash in sunlight so soft that it was impossible to distinguish between light and shade."