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DEDICATIONSpecial thanks to Cherith Baldry
n tabby tom withamber eyesDEPUTYSQ UIRRELFLIGHT —darkginger she-cat withgreen eyes and one white pawMEDICINE LEAFPOOL—light brown tabby she-cat withCATSamber eyes and white paws and chestJAYFEATHER—gray tabby tom with blind blueeyesWARRIORS (toms and she-cats without kits)BRACKENFUR—golden-brown tabby tomCLOUDTAIL —long-haired white tom with blueeyesBRIGHTHEART —white she-cat with gingerpatchesTHORNCLAW—golden-brown tabby tomWHITEWING—white she-cat with green eyesBIRCHFALL —light brown tabby tom
BERRYNOSE —cream-coloredtom with a stumpfor a tailMOUSEWHISKER—gray-and-whitetomPOPPYFROST —tortoiseshell she-catCINDERHEART —gray tabby she-catLIONBLAZE —golden tabby tom with ambereyesROSEPETAL —dark cream she-catBRIARLIGHT —dark brown she-cat, paralyzedin her hindquartersBLOSSOMFALL —tortoiseshell-and-white shecat with petal-shaped white patchesBUMBLESTRIPE —very pale gray tom withblack stripesIVYPOOL —silver-and-white tabby she-cat withdark blue eyesDOVEWING—pale gray she-cat with greeneyesCHERRYFALL —ginger she-catAPPRENTICE, SPARKPAW (orange tabby shecat)MOLEWHISKER—brown-and-cream tomAPPRENTICE, ALDERPAW (dark ginger tom withamber eyes)
SNOWBUSH—white, fluffytomginger she-catDEWNOSE —gray-and-white tomSTORMCLOUD—(formerly Frankie); gray tabbytomHOLLYTUFT —black she-catFERNSONG—yellow tabby tomSORRELSTRIPE —dark brown she-catAMBERMOON—paleQUEENS(she-cats expecting or nursing kits)DAISY—cream, long-furred cat from thehorseplaceLILYHEART —tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat(mother to Leafkit, a tortoiseshell she-kit,Larkkit, a black tom-kit, and Honeykit, a whiteshe-kit with yellow splotches)ELDERS(former warriors and queens, now retired)PURDY—plump tabby, former loner with a graymuzzleGRAYSTRIPE —long-haired gray tomSANDSTORM—pale ginger she-cat with greeneyesMILLIE —striped gray tabby she-cat with blueeyes
SHADOWCLANLEADERROWANSTAR—ginger tomDEPUTYCROWFROST small tabby tomWARRIORS TAWNYPELT—tortoiseshell she-cat with greeneyesAPPRENTICE, NEEDLEPAWTIGERHEART —dark browntabby tomAPPRENTICE, SLEEKPAWSTONEWING—whitetomAPPRENTICE, JUNIPERPAWSPIKEFUR—dark browntom with tufty fur onhis headAPPRENTICE, YARROWPAWWASPTAIL —yellow tabbyshe-cat with greeneyesAPPRENTICE, STRIKEPAWDAWNPELT —cream-furredshe-catAPPRENTICE, BEEPAWSNOWBIRD—sleek, lithe, well-muscled, purewhite she-cat with green eyes
SCORCHFUR—dark graytom with slashed ears,one of which is tornBERRYHEART —black and white she-catCLOVERFOOT —gray tabby she-catRIPPLETAIL —white tomSPARROWTAIL —large tabby tomMISTCLOUD—spiky-furred, pale gray she-catQUEENSGRASSHEART —palebrown tabby she-catPINENOSE —black she-cat (mother to Birchkit,a beige tom-kit, Lionkit, a yellow she-kit withamber eyes, Puddlekit, a brown tom-kit withwhite splotches, and Slatekit, a sleek, graytom-kit)ELDERSOAKFUR—small browntomKINKFUR—tabby she-cat, with long fur thatsticks out at all anglesRATSCAR—brown tom with long scar acrosshis backWINDCLANLEADERONESTAR—browntabby tom
DEPUTYHARESPRING—brown-and-whitetomMEDICINE KESTRELFLIGHT—mottled gray tom withCATwhite splotches like kestrel feathersWARRIORS NIGHTCLOUD—black she-catGORSETAIL —very pale gray-and-white she-catwith blue eyesCROWFEATHER—dark gray tomAPPRENTICE, FERNPAW (dark brown she-cat)LEAFTAIL —dark tabby tom, amber eyesEMBERFOOT —gray tom with two dark pawsBREEZEPELT —black tom with amber eyesFURZEPELT —gray-and-white she-catLARKWING—pale brown tabby she-catSEDGEWHISKER—light brown tabby she-catSLIGHTFOOT —black tom with white flash onhis chestOATCLAW—pale brown tabby tomFEATHERPELT —gray tabby she-catHOOTWHISKER—dark gray tomQUEENSHEATHERTAIL —lightbrown tabby she-catwith blue eyes (mother to Smokekit, a grayshe-kit, and Brindlekit, a mottled brown shekit)
ELDERSWHITETAIL —small whiteshe-catRIVERCLANLEADERMISTYSTAR—grayshe-cat with blue eyesDEPUTYREEDWHISKER—black tomMEDICINECATSMOTHWING—dappledgolden she-catWILLOWSHINE —graytabby she-catWARRIORS MINTFUR—light gray tabby tomDUSKFUR—brown tabby she-catAPPRENTICE, SHADEPAW (dark brown she-cat)MINNOWTAIL —dark gray she-catMALLOWNOSE —light brown tabby tomPETALFUR—gray-and-white she-catBEETLEWHISKER—brown-and-white tabbytomCURLFEATHER—pale brown she-catPODLIGHT —gray-and-white tomHERONWING—dark gray-and-black tomSHIMMERPELT —silver she-cat
LIZARDTAIL —lightbrown tom(russet tabby tom)HAVENPELT —black-and-white she-catPERCHWING—gray-and-white she-catSNEEZECLOUD—gray-and-white tomBRACKENPELT —tortoiseshell she-catJAYCLAW—gray tomOWLNOSE —brown tabby tomAPPRENTICE, FOXPAWQUEENSLAKEHEART —graytabby she-catICEWING—white she-cat with blue eyes(mother to Nightkit and Breezekit)ELDERSMOSSPELT —tortoiseshell-and-whiteshe-cat
MAPS
CONTENTSDedicationAllegiancesMapsPrologueChapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 4Chapter 5Chapter 6Chapter 7Chapter 8Chapter 9Chapter 10Chapter 11Chapter 12
Chapter 13Chapter 14Chapter 15Chapter 16Chapter 17Chapter 18Chapter 19Chapter 20Chapter 21Chapter 22Chapter 23Chapter 24Excerpt from Warriors: A Vision ofShadows #2: Thunder and ShadowBack AdsAbout the AuthorBooks by Erin HunterCreditsCopyrightAbout the Publisher
PROLOGUEJayfeather scrambled up the slope that led tothe Moonpool, his paws skidding on the dampstones. A chill breeze ruffled his fur, and heshivered as his mother, Leafpool, hauledherself up the rocks to stand at his side.“Greenleaf is almost over,” she said. “We’llneed to stock up on herbs while we still can.Catmint, especially.”“Catmint!” Jayfeather’s tail-tip twitched
impatiently. “You’re always meowing on aboutcatmint. If you had your way, we’d fill our denwith it and not leave room for anything else.”Leafpool gave him a friendly shove. “Wecould do worse. You know how quicklywhitecough can turn to greencough if it’s nottreated properly. The elders—”“Sandstorm, Graystripe, Millie, and Purdyare perfectly healthy,” Jayfeather interrupted.“Honestly, Leafpool, you coddle them toomuch. Besides, we have plenty of catmintgrowing by the old Twoleg nest. Enough evenfor you! So don’t expect me to go out gatheringmore.”As he finished speaking, he heard thescuffling of paws farther down the slope. Thepowerful watery scent of RiverClan swept overhim as Mothwing and Willowshine, theRiverClan medicine cats, climbed up to jointhem.“We have plenty of catmint,” Mothwing
announced mildly. “Just let us know ifThunderClan runs into problems.”“Thanks, Mothwing,” Leafpool meowed,while Jayfeather bit back a sharp retort.Like ThunderClan needs to rely onRiverClan for herbs!“Let’s get moving,” he urged the othermedicine cats. “Littlecloud and Kestrelflightare ahead of us. I can scent their trail.”Taking the lead, Jayfeather bounded up therest of the slope, sure-pawed in spite of hisblindness, and pushed his way through the thickbushes that surrounded the hollow of theMoonpool. As he emerged, shaking his pelt, hecould hear the splashing of the stream as itpoured down the rocks, and he imagined theglitter of starshine on the surface of the water.“Welcome!” Littlecloud, the ShadowClanmedicine cat, called out from the water’s edgebelow. “Kestrelflight and I thought you werenever coming.”
“Well, we’re here now,” Jayfeatherresponded.He began to descend the spiral path that ledto the pool, his paws slipping easily into theprints left by the cats who used to live by thelake countless seasons before.“So long ago . . . ,” he whispered to himself,struggling with bittersweet memories of thetime he had walked the same path with thoseancient cats. The time he had set their paws onthe journey that led them to the mountains. Thetime I shared tongues with Half Moon . . .Forcing himself back to the present, hejoined Littlecloud and Kestrelflight beside thepool and waited for Leafpool, Mothwing, andWillowshine to pad down the path in turn. Thenhe settled himself at the water’s edge. He couldhear the other medicine cats doing the same,spaced out along the bank.Even Mothwing, he thought, wonderingonce again how she could be a medicine cat
when she didn’t believe in StarClan. All she’sgoing to get out of this is a nice, peacefulnap!Gradually the sound of cats shifting aroundfaded, leaving only the endless cascade offalling water. Beneath the torrent Jayfeather’sacute hearing picked up the sound ofLittlecloud’s breathing. There was a faint raspin it, and now and then a hitch that remindedJayfeather uncomfortably of how old theShadowClan medicine cat was getting.He hasn’t taken an apprentice sinceFlametail’s death, Jayfeather remindedhimself with a frown. ShadowClan is crawlingwith young cats. Surely one of them must besuitable?Determinedly Jayfeather banished hisworries. Whatever might happen in the future,life was good in the Clans now. There had beenplenty of prey throughout greenleaf, and everycat was healthy. Contentment crept over him
like the taste of succulent prey as he closed hiseyes, stretched out his neck, and touched hisnose to the water of the Moonpool.Jayfeather became aware of sunlightbeating down on his fur. His nose twitched atthe scent of green, growing things, carried tohim on a warm breeze. Stretching luxuriously,he opened his eyes.What in the name of StarClan . . . ?Springing to his paws, Jayfeather staredaround him. He was standing in the middle of astretch of lush grass, bordered by leaf-ladentrees. Somewhere in the distance he could hearthe gentle bubbling of a stream. And all aroundhim, blinking at one another in confusion, werehis fellow medicine cats.This can’t be right, Jayfeather told himself,every hair on his pelt rising in apprehension.Once he had been able to walk in the dreams ofother cats, but he had lost that power after thebattle against the cats of the Dark Forest,
almost eighteen moons ago. And now we’rewalking in one another’s dreams. Themedicine cats of all four Clans stood togetheron the sunny grass of StarClan’s huntinggrounds. Does that mean StarClan has animportant message for all of us?“What’s happening?” Kestrelflight asked,his eyes wide and scared.Littlecloud shook his head in bewilderment.“It’s very odd . . . ,” he mewed.Leafpool and Willowshine had their headstogether and were talking in quick, anxiousmurmurs. Jayfeather padded toward them, onlyto halt as he spotted a group of catsapproaching from beyond the trees. Theymoved in a haze of starshine, with a frostyglitter at their paws and around their ears. Anoble tom with a flame-colored pelt paced inthe lead. A shiver ran through Jayfeather’s peltas he recognized the former ThunderClanleader.
Leafpool let out a cry of joy. “Firestar!”A wave of affection flooded over Jayfeatheras he watched her race across the grass totouch noses with her father.Kestrelflight bounded after her to meetBarkface, who had been his mentor inWindClan; the two medicine cats immediatelyfell into deep conversation. Willowshinepadded up to Leopardstar and dipped her headrespectfully as she greeted the previousRiverClan leader. Littlecloud and Flametailsettled down together on the grass, sharingtongues and purring with delight, whileShadowClan’s former leader Blackstar lookedon approvingly.Jayfeather set off more slowly to greet theStarClan cats. Though he was pleased to seethem, his paws still prickled with uneasiness. Iwant to know what all this is about.He noticed more cats standing in the shadeof the trees, barely visible except as glimmers
of starlight. Scanning them closely, Jayfeatherrealized that he didn’t recognize any of them.Parting his jaws, he inhaled deeply to draw theirscent into his mouth, and he tasted somethinghe had never encountered before.Narrowing his eyes, Jayfeather strode up toFirestar. “What’s going on?” he demanded.“Who are those strange cats?”“Greetings to you too, Jayfeather,” Firestarresponded.Jayfeather’s tail-tip twitched impatiently.“Well?”Firestar cleared his throat and glanced atthe other StarClan cats, who broke off theirconversations to cluster around him.“I suppose you can go ahead and speak forus all this time,” Leopardstar remarked drily tothe flame-colored tom. “You’re obviouslyplanning to anyway.”The other medicine cats had drawn closerto Jayfeather, who saw Kestrelflight shifting
his paws uneasily, as if he wanted to speak butwas uncomfortable with this shared vision.Jayfeather gave him a prod. “Spit it out,” hegrowled.“Maybe each of us medicine cats shouldspeak privately with our own Clanmates,”Kestrelflight suggested diffidently. “Theremight be things to discuss that are private toour Clans.”“No,” Barkface meowed gently, touchinghis nose to Kestrelflight’s shoulder. “We have aprophecy for all of you—one that concerns allthe Clans.”Jayfeather felt his heart start to beat faster.Not another prophecy! he groaned inwardly.Does this mean our seasons of peace arecoming to an end?“A prophecy, and a promise too,” Firestarmeowed. He was staring directly intoJayfeather’s eyes, as if he knew the wordsJayfeather hadn’t spoken aloud. “A time of
great change is coming for all the Clans.Embrace what you find in the shadows, foronly they can clear the sky.”He stopped speaking, while the StarClanancestors gazed impressively at the medicinecats.When the silence had stretched out forseveral heartbeats, Jayfeather lashed his tail infrustration. “What does that mean?” hedemanded, glaring at Firestar. Sarcasm filledhis voice like a scratching claw as he added, “Ifyou try really hard, do you think you could be abit more obscure?”Firestar gazed at Jayfeather with a mixtureof affection and irritation. But the vision wasalready beginning to fade. The shapes of theStarClan cats shone out in a blaze of starlight,dazzling Jayfeather and the other medicine cats.The sky darkened as if clouds were racing tocover the sun.But before his vision left him, Jayfeather
spotted from the corner of his eye another cathe did not immediately recognize: a very youngtom standing a pace or two back from the circleof medicine cats. As Jayfeather turned to facehim, he bounded away, so that all Jayfeathersaw clearly was the flick of a white-tipped tail.Jayfeather took a breath to catch his scent.That’s a living cat! he realized. And he smellsstrongly of ThunderClan.
CHAPTER 1Alderkit stood in front of the nursery,nervously shifting his weight. He unsheathedhis claws, digging them into the beaten earth ofthe stone hollow, then sheathed them again andshook dust from his paws.Now what happens? he asked himself, hisbelly churning as he thought about hisapprentice ceremony, which was only momentsaway. What if there’s some sort of assessment
before I can be an apprentice?Alderkit thought he had heard somethingabout an assessment once. Perhaps it had beena few moons ago when Hollytuft, Fernsong, andSorrelstripe had been made warriors. But Ican’t really remember. . . . I was so little then.His heart started to pound faster and faster.He tried to convince himself that some catwould have told him if he was supposed toprove that he was ready. Because I’m not surethat I am ready to become an apprentice. Notsure at all. What if I can’t do it?Deep in his own thoughts, Alderkit jumpedin surprise as a cat nudged him hard frombehind. Spinning around, he saw his sisterSparkkit, her orange tabby fur bushing out in alldirections.“Aren’t you excited?” she asked with anenthusiastic bounce. “Don’t you want to knowwho your mentor will be? I hope I get someonefun! Not a bossy cat like Berrynose, or one like
Whitewing. She sticks so close to the rules Ithink she must recite the warrior code in hersleep!”“That’s enough.” The kits’ mother,Squirrelflight, emerged from the nursery intime to hear Sparkkit’s last words. “You’re notsupposed to have fun with your mentors,” sheadded, licking one paw and smoothing it overSparkkit’s pelt. “You’re supposed to learn fromthem. Berrynose and Whitewing are both finewarriors. You’d be very lucky to have either ofthem as your mentor.”Though Squirrelflight’s voice was sharp, hergreen gaze shone with love for her kits.Alderkit knew how much his mother adoredhim and his sister. He was only a kit, but heunderstood that Squirrelflight was old to haveher first litter, and he remembered their sharedgrief for his lost littermates: Juniperkit, whohad barely taken a breath before he died, andDandelionkit, who had never been strong, and
who had slowly weakened until she also diedtwo moons later.Sparkkit and I have to be the best cats wecan be for Squirrelflight and Bramblestar.Sparkkit, meanwhile, wasn’t at all cowed byher mother’s scolding. She twitched her tail andcheerfully shook her pelt until her fur fluffedup again.Alderkit wished he had her confidence. Hehadn’t wondered until now who his mentorwould be, and he gazed around the clearing atthe other cats with new and curious eyes.Ivypool would be an okay mentor, he thought,spotting the silver-and-white tabby she-catreturning from a hunting patrol with Lionblazeand Blossomfall. She’s friendly and a goodhunter. Lionblaze is a bit scary, though.Alderkit suppressed a shiver at the sight of themuscles rippling beneath the golden warrior’spelt. And it won’t be Blossomfall, because shewas just mentor for Hollytuft. Or Brackenfur
or Rosepetal, because they mentoredSorrelstripe and Fernsong.Lost in thought, Alderkit watchedThornclaw, who had paused in the middle of theclearing to give himself a good scratch behindone ear. He’d probably be okay, though he’ssort of short-tempered . . .“Hey, wake up!” Sparkkit trod down hard onAlderkit’s paw. “It’s starting!”Alderkit realized that Bramblestar hadappeared on the Highledge outside his den, wayabove their heads on the wall of the stonehollow.“Let all cats old enough to catch their ownprey join here beneath the Highledge for a Clanmeeting!” Bramblestar yowled.As the cats in the clearing turned theirattention to Bramblestar and began to gathertogether, Alderpaw thought that his fatherseemed to stand taller and stronger than all ofthem—even brave warriors like Lionblaze and
Dovewing.He’s so confident and strong. I’m lucky tobe his son.Bramblestar ran lightly down the tumbledrocks and took his place in the center of theragged circle of cats that was forming at thefoot of the rock wall. Graystripe, the Clan’sprevious deputy, purred as the kits passed him,and Sorrelstripe, one of the youngest warriors,held her head high, as if proud to have finishedher own apprenticeship. Squirrelflight gentlynudged her two kits forward until they toostood in the circle.Alderkit’s belly began to churn even harder,and he tightened all his muscles to stop himselffrom trembling. I can’t do this! he thought,struggling not to panic.Then he caught sight of his father’s gaze onhim: such a warm, proud look that Alderkitinstantly felt comforted. He took a few deepbreaths, forcing himself to relax.
“Cats of ThunderClan,” Bramblestar began,“this is a good day for us, because it’s time tomake two new apprentices. Sparkkit, comehere, please.”Instantly Sparkkit bounced into the centerof the circle, her tail standing straight up andher fur bristling with excitement. She gazedconfidently at her leader.“From this day forward,” Bramblestarmeowed, touching Sparkkit on her shoulderwith his tail-tip, “this apprentice will be knownas Sparkpaw. Cherryfall, you will be hermentor. I trust that you will share with her yourdedication to your Clan, your quick mind, andyour excellent hunting skills.”Sparkpaw dashed across the circle toCherryfall, bouncing with happiness, and theginger she-cat bent her head to touch noseswith her.“Sparkpaw! Sparkpaw!” the Clan began toyowl.
Sparkpaw gave a pleased little hop as herClanmates chanted her new name, her eyesshining as she stood beside her mentor.Alderkit joined in the acclamation, pleasedto see how happy his sister looked. ThankStarClan! There wasn’t any kind of test toprove that she was ready.As the yowling died away, Bramblestarbeckoned to Alderkit with his tail. “Your turn,”he meowed, his gaze encouraging Alderkit on.Alderkit’s legs were suddenly wobbly as hestaggered into the center of the circle. Hischest felt tight, as if he couldn’t breatheproperly. But as he halted in front ofBramblestar, his father gave him a slight nod tosteady him, and he stood with his head raised asBramblestar rested the tip of his tail on hisshoulder.“From this day forward, this apprentice willbe known as Alderpaw,” Bramblestarannounced. “Molewhisker, you will be his
mentor. You are loyal, determined, and brave,and I know that you will do your best to pass onthese qualities to your apprentice.”As he padded across the clearing to join hismentor, Alderpaw wasn’t sure how he felt. Heknew that Molewhisker was Cherryfall’slittermate, but the big cream-and-brown tomwas much quieter than his sister, and had nevershown much interest in the kits. His gaze wassolemn as he bent to touch noses withAlderpaw.I hope I can make you proud of me,Alderpaw thought. I’m going to try my hardest!“Alderpaw! Alderpaw!”Alderpaw ducked his head and gave hischest fur a few embarrassed licks as he heardhis Clan caterwauling his name. At the sametime, he thought he would burst with happiness.At last the chanting died away and the crowdof cats began to disperse, heading toward theirdens or the fresh-kill pile. Squirrelflight and
Bramblestar padded over to join their kits.“Well done,” Bramblestar meowed. “Itwasn’t so scary, was it?”“It was great!” Sparkpaw responded, her tailwaving in the air. “I can’t wait to go hunting!”“We’re so proud of both of you,”Squirrelflight purred, giving Sparkpaw and thenAlderpaw a lick around the ears. “I’m sureyou’ll be wonderful warriors one day.”Bramblestar dipped his head in agreement.“I know you both have so much to give yourClan.” He stepped back as he finished speaking,and waved his tail to draw Molewhisker andCherryfall closer. “Listen to your mentors,” hetold the two new apprentices. “I’m lookingforward to hearing good things about yourprogress.”With an affectionate nuzzle he turned awayand headed toward his den. Squirrelflight toogave her kits a quick cuddle, and then shefollowed him. Alderpaw and Sparkpaw were left
alone with Molewhisker and Cherryfall.Molewhisker faced Alderpaw, blinkingsolemnly. “It’s a big responsibility, being anapprentice,” he meowed. “You must pay closeattention to everything you’re taught, becauseone day your Clan may depend on your fightingor hunting skills.”Alderpaw nodded solemnly.“You’ll have to work hard to prove you havewhat it takes to be a warrior,” Molewhiskerwent on.His head held high, Alderpaw tried to lookworthy, but was afraid he wasn’t doing a verygood job of it. Hearing Cherryfall talking toSparkpaw just behind him didn’t help at all.“. . . and we’ll have such fun exploring theterritory!” the ginger she-cat mewedenthusiastically. “And now you’ll get to go toGatherings.”Alderpaw couldn’t help wishing that his ownmentor were a little more enthusiastic, like his
littermate’s.“Can we start learning to hunt now?”Sparkpaw asked eagerly.It was Molewhisker who replied. “Not rightnow. In addition to learning how to be warriors,apprentices have special duties for the wellbeing of the whole Clan.”“What do we have to do?” Alderpaw asked,hoping to impress on his mentor that he wasready for anything.There was a guilty look on Cherryfall’s faceas she meowed, “Today you’re going to makethe elders more comfortable by getting rid oftheir ticks.”Molewhisker waved his tail in the directionof the medicine cats’ den. “Go and askLeafpool or Jayfeather for some mouse bile.They’ll tell you how to use it.”“Mouse bile!” Sparkpaw wrinkled her nosein disgust. “Yuck!”Alderpaw’s heart sank further. If this is
being an apprentice, I’m not sure I’m going tolike it.Sunlight shone into the den beneath thehazel bushes where the elders lived. Alderpawwished that he could curl up in the warmth andtake a nap. Instead he combed his clawspainstakingly through Graystripe’s long pelt,searching for ticks. Sparkpaw was doing thesame for Purdy, while Sandstorm and Millielooked on, patiently waiting their turn.“Wow, there’s a massive tick here!”Sparkpaw exclaimed. “Hold still, Purdy, and I’llget it off.”With clenched teeth she picked up the twigJayfeather had given her, which had a ball ofmoss soaked in mouse bile stuck on one end,and awkwardly maneuvered it until she coulddab the moss onto Purdy’s tick.The old tabby shook his pelt and sighed withrelief as the tick fell off. “That’s much better,
young ’un,” he purred.“But this stuff smells horrible!” Sparkpawmumbled around the twig. “I don’t know howyou elders can stand it.” Suppressing a sigh, shebegan parting Purdy’s clumped, untidy fur insearch of more ticks.“Now you listen to me, youngster,” Purdymeowed. “There’s not a cat in ThunderClan whowasn’t an apprentice once, takin’ off ticks, justlike you.”“Even Bramblestar?” Alderpaw asked,pausing with one paw sunk deep in Graystripe’spelt.“Even Firestar,” Graystripe responded. “Heand I were apprentices together, and I’ve lostcount of the number of ticks we pulled. Hey!”he added, giving Alderpaw a prod. “Watch whatyou’re doing. Your claws are digging in myshoulder!”“Sorry!” Alderpaw replied.In spite of being scolded, he felt quite
content. Cleaning off ticks was a messy job, butthere were worse things than sitting in a shaftof sunlight and listening to the elders. Helooked up briefly to see Sandstorm’s greengaze resting lovingly on him and his sister asshe settled herself more comfortably in thebracken of her nest.“I remember when your mother was firstmade an apprentice,” she mewed. “Dustpelt washer mentor. You never knew him—he died inthe Great Storm—but he was one of our bestwarriors, and he didn’t put up with anynonsense. Even so, Squirrelflight was a matchfor him!”“What did she do?” Alderpaw asked,intrigued to think of his serious, businesslikemother as a difficult young apprentice. “Go on,tell us!”Sandstorm sighed. “What didn’t she do?Slipping out of camp to hunt on her own . . .getting stuck in bushes, falling into streams . . .
I remember Dustpelt saying to me once, ‘If thatkit of yours doesn’t shape up, I’m going to clawher pelt off and hang it on a bush to frighten thefoxes!’”Sparkpaw stared at Sandstorm with hermouth gaping. “He wouldn’t have!”“No, of course not,” Sandstorm responded,her green eyes alight with amusement, “butDustpelt had to be tough with her. He saw howmuch she had to offer her Clan, but he knewshe wouldn’t live up to her potential unless shelearned discipline.”“She sure did that,” Alderpaw meowed.“Hey!” Graystripe gave Alderpaw anotherprod. “What about my ticks, huh?”“And ours,” Millie put in, with a glance atSandstorm. “We’ve been waiting moons!”“Sorry . . .”Alderpaw began rapidly searching throughGraystripe’s pelt, and almost at once he cameacross a huge swollen tick. That must be
making Graystripe really uncomfortable.Picking up his stick with the bile-soakedmoss, he dabbed at the tick. At the samemoment, he happened to glance up, and spottedLeafpool and Jayfeather talking intently to eachother just outside the medicine cats’ den.As Alderpaw wondered vaguely what was soimportant, both medicine cats turned towardhim. Suddenly he felt trapped by Jayfeather’sblind gaze and Leafpool’s searching one.A worm of uneasiness began to gnaw atAlderpaw’s belly. Great StarClan! Are theytalking about me? Have I messed somethingup already?
CHAPTER 2Alderpaw scarcely slept at all on his firstnight in the apprentices’ den. He missed thewarm scents of the nursery and the familiarshapes of his mother and Daisy sleeping besidehim. The hollow beneath the ferns seemedempty with only him and his sister occupyingit.Sparkpaw had curled up at once with her tailwrapped over her nose, but Alderpaw dozed
uneasily, caught between excitement andapprehension at what the new day would bring.He was fully awake again by the time the firstpale light of dawn began to filter through theferns.He sprang up as the arching fronds partedand a head appeared, but relaxed when herecognized Cherryfall.“Hi!” the ginger she-cat meowed. “GiveSparkpaw a prod. It’s time for our tour of theterritory!”“Me too?” Alderpaw asked.“Yes, of course. Molewhisker is herewaiting. Hurry!”Alderpaw poked one paw into his sister’sside, and her soft, rhythmic snoring broke offwith a squeak of alarm. “Is it foxes?” she asked,sitting up and shaking scraps of moss off herpelt. “Badgers?”“No, it’s our mentors,” Alderpaw told her.“They’re going to show us the territory.”
“Great!” Sparkpaw shot upward, scrabblinghard with her hind paws as she pushed her wayout through the ferns. “Let’s go!”Alderpaw followed more slowly, shiveringin the chilly air of dawn. Outside the denMolewhisker and Cherryfall stood waiting sideby side. Beyond them he spotted Bumblestripe,Rosepetal, and Cloudtail emerging from thewarriors’ den. After a quick grooming they setoff, with Cloudtail in the lead, and vanishedthrough the thorn tunnel.“There goes the dawn patrol,” Molewhiskermeowed. “We’ll wait a few moments to letthem get on their way. If you want, you can takesomething from the fresh-kill pile.”Alderpaw suddenly realized how hungry hewas. With Sparkpaw at his side, he raced acrossthe camp.“There’s not much here,” Sparkpawcomplained, prodding with one paw at ascrawny mouse.
“The hunting patrols haven’t gone out yet,”Alderpaw pointed out. He took a blackbirdfrom the scanty prey that remained and begangulping it down.“Wait till we’re hunters!” Sparkpawmumbled around a mouthful of mouse. “Thenthe fresh-kill pile will always be full.”Alderpaw hoped that she was right.Molewhisker waved his tail from theopposite side of the camp. Swallowing the lastof their prey, the two apprentices bounded backto join him and Cherryfall, who took the lead asthey pushed their way through the tunnel in thebarrier of thorns that blocked the entrance tothe camp.Alderpaw’s pads tingled with anticipation ashe slid through the narrow
SCORCHFUR—dark gray tom with slashed ears, one of which is torn BERRYHEART—black and white she-cat CLOVERFOOT—gray tabby she-cat RIPPLETAIL—white tom SPARROWTAIL—large tabby tom MISTCLOUD—spiky-furred, pale gray she-cat QUEENS GRASSHEART—pale brown tabb
