Transcription
DEDICATIONSpecial thanks to Kate Cary
tabby tom with amber eyesDEPUTYSQUIRRELFLIGHT—darkginger she-cat with green eyand one white pawMEDICINE LEAFPOOL—lightbrowCATStabby she-cat with ambeyes, white paws and chestJAYFEATHER—gray tabby to
with blind blue eyesALDERHEART—darktom with amber eyesgingWARRIORS (toms and she-cats withokits)BRACKENFUR—golden-browtabby tomCLOUDTAIL—long-hairedwhite tom with blue eyesBRIGHTHEART—white she-cwith ginger patchesTHORNCLAW—golden-browntabby tomWHITEWING—whiteshe-cwith green eyesBIRCHFALL—lightbrow
tabby tomBERRYNOSE—cream-coloredtom with a stump for a tailMOUSEWHISKER—gray-andwhite tomAPPRENTICE,PLUMPA(black-and-ginger she-cat)POPPYFROST—paletortoiseshell-and-white shcatLIONBLAZE—goldentabbtom with amber eyesROSEPETAL—dark cream shcatAPPRENTICE,STEMPA(white-and-orange tom)LILYHEART—small,da
tabby she-cat with whipatches and blue eyesBUMBLESTRIPE—verypagray tom with black stripesAPPRENTICE,SHELLPA(tortoiseshell tom)CHERRYFALL—ginger she-caMOLEWHISKER—brown-andcream inger aytabbtom
HOLLYTUFT—black she-cattabby toSORRELSTRIPE—dark G—yellowAPPRENTICE,SPOTPA(spotted tabby she-cat)LARKSONG—black tomHONEYFUR—whiteshe-cwith yellow �gray she-cwith green eyesAPPRENTICE, FLYPAW (stripegray tabby she-cat)
FINLEAP—brown tomAPPRENTICE,SNAPPA(golden tabby toisesheland-white she-cat with petashaped white patchesQUEENS(she-cats expecting or nursinkits)DAISY—cream long-furred cfrom the horseplaceIVYPOOL—silver-and-whitetabby she-cat with dark blueyes (mother to Bristlekit,pale gray she-kit; Thriftkit,dark gray she-kit; and Flipk
a tabby tom)ELDERS(former warriors and queennow retired)GRAYSTRIPE—long-hairedgray tomMILLIE—striped silver tabbshe-cat with blue eyesSHADOWCLANLEADERTIGERSTAR—darkbrowtabby tomDEPUTYTAWNYPELT—tortoiseshellshe-cat with green eyesAPPRENTICE,CONEPA(white-and-gray tom)
MEDICINE PUDDLESHINE—brownCATwith white splotchestoWARRIORS JUNIPERCLAW—black tomWHORLPELT—gray-and-whittomSTRIKESTONE—brown tabbtomAPPRENTICE,BLAZEPA(white-and-ginger tom)STONEWING—white tom(towith abrown-and-blacsplotched pelt)GRASSHEART—palebrowtabby she-catAPPRENTICE, GULLPAW (whiAPPRENTICE,ANTPAW
she-cat)SCORCHFUR—darkgray towith slashed earsFLOWERSTEM —silver she-caSNAKETOOTH—honeycolored tabby she-catSLATEFUR—sleek gray tomAPPRENTICE, FRONDPAW (gratabby large browtabby tomAPPRENTICE,CINNAMONPA(brown tabby she-cat wiwhite paws)SNOWBIRD—pure white sh
cat with green eyesQUEENSDOVEWING—palegray she-cwith green eyes (motherPouncekit, a gray she-kLightkit, a brown tabby shkit; and Shadowkit, a gratabby tom)BERRYHEART—black-andwhite she-cat (motherHollowkit, a black tomSunkit, a brown-and-whitabby she-kit; and Spirekit,black-and-white tom)YARROWLEAF—ginger she-cwith yellow eyes (motherHopkit, a calico she-kit; anFlaxkit, a brown tabby tom)
ELDERSOAKFUR—smallbrown tomRATSCAR—scarred,skinndark brown tomSKYCLANLEADERLEAFSTAR—brown-and-creatabby she-cat with amber eyeDEPUTYHAWKWING—darkgray towith yellow eyesMEDICINE FRECKLEWISH—mottled ligCATSbrown tabby she-cat wispotted legsFIDGETFLAKE—black-andwhite tomMEDIATOR TREE—yellowtomwi
amber eyesWARRIORS SPARROWPELT—darktabby tomAPPRENTICE,browNECTARPA(brown rdy gray inger she-cat)SAGENOSE—pale gray tomAPPRENTICE, GRAVELPAWtom)HARRYBROOK—gray tom(ta
APPRENTICE,FRINGEPA(white she-cat with browsplotches)BLOSSOMHEART—ginger-anwhite she-catAPPRENTICE,PIGEONPA(gray-and-white she-cat)SANDYNOSE—stockyligbrown tom with ginger legsAPPRENTICE,QUAILPA(white tom with crow-blacears)RABBITLEAP—brown tomAPPRENTICE, PALEPAW (blacand-white she-cat)BELLALEAF—paleorangshe-cat with green eyes
REEDCLAW—smallpale tabbshe-catVIOLETSHINE—black-and-white she-cat witheyesMINTFUR—gray tabbywith blue t who has lost hhearingWINDCLAN
—darkgratomMEDICINE KESTRELFLIGHT—mottledCATgray tom with white splotchlike kestrel feathersWARRIORS NIGHTCLOUD—black she-caBRINDLEWING—mottledbrown she-catGORSETAIL—very pale graand-white she-cat with blueyesLEAFTAIL—dark tabby towith amber eyes
EMBERFOOT—graytom witwo dark pawsSMOKEHAZE—gray she-catBREEZEPELT—black tom wiamber eyesCROUCHFOOT—ginger tomLARKWING—palebrowtabby she-catSEDGEWHISKER—light browtabby she-catSLIGHTFOOT—black tom wiwhite flash on his chestOATCLAW—pale brown tabbtomFEATHERPELT—graytabbshe-cat
HOOTWHISKER—darkgratombrowtabby she-cat with blue eyesFERNSTRIPE—gray tabby rowtomWHITETAIL—smallwhite shcatRIVERCLANLEADERMISTYSTAR—grayshe-cwith blue eyesDEPUTYREEDWHISKER—black tom
MEDICINE MOTHWING—dappled ORS MINTFUR—light gray tabbtomAPPRENTICE, SOFTPAW (grashe-cat)DUSKFUR—brown tabby shcatAPPRENTICE,DAPPLEPA(gray-and-white tom)MINNOWTAIL—darkand-white she-catAPPRENTICE,graBREEZEPA(brown-and-white she-cat)MALLOWNOSE—light brow
tabby tomBEETLEWHISKER—brown-and-white tabby tomAPPRENTICE, HT—gray-and-whitetomHERONWING—darkgray-anblack tomSHIMMERPELT—silvershcat(dagray she-cat with blue eyes)LIZARDTAIL—light brown toAPPRENTICE, NIGHTPAW
-and-white SEPA(white tom with gray ears)JAYCLAW—gray tomOWLNOSE—brown tabby tomICEWING—white she-cat wiblue eyesELDERSMOSSPELT—tortoiseshell-anwhite she-cat
MAPS
CONTENTSCoverTitle PageDedicationAllegiancesMapsPrologueChapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 4Chapter 5
Chapter 6Chapter 7Chapter 8Chapter 9Chapter 10Chapter 11Chapter 12Chapter 13Chapter 14Chapter 15Chapter 16Chapter 17Chapter 18Chapter 19Chapter 20Chapter 21Chapter 22Chapter 23
Chapter 24Chapter 25About the AuthorBooks by Erin HunterBack AdsCopyrightAbout the Publisher
PROLOGUEAs darkness shrouded the valley, thelake glittered with broken moonlight.Firestar paced the island, watching fromthe shore. He could smell newleaf on thewind and, with it, the promise of seasonsthe Clans might never see.Blackstar shivered a few tail-lengthsaway as the ghostly leaders of otherClans stood around him, starsshimmering in their pelts. “Why bring ushere?”Tallstar fluffed out his thick blackand-white fur. “What needs to be saidhere that couldn’t be said in StarClan?
It’s warm there.”Firestar didn’t answer. Longingpulled at his belly as he saw the oakforest, covering the shore like a pelt.Bluestar touched her tail-tip to hisflank. “Tell us why we’re here,” shemeowed gently.“It’s pointless rushing him.”Crookedstar sat at the water’s edge andtucked his paws beneath his tail.“Firestar likes to think before hespeaks.”“He should have done his thinkingbefore he brought us here,” Tallstargrumbled.Blackstar flicked his tail impatiently.“We don’t need to stand here in the darkto know what’s waiting for the Clans.”
Firestar turned on him. “We knowwhat is coming. But I don’t think we’veunderstood how ill-prepared the Clansare to face it. They sleep while weworry.” As he spoke, a shadow movedamong the pines near the shoreline.Firestar jerked his muzzle toward it.“Rowanclaw? What are you doinghere?”The ShadowClan cat’s eyes flashedin the darkness as he padded toward theothers. Stars glittered in his fur. “If youcame here to discuss the future of theClans, I have a right to be part of it.”“You’re not a leader anymore.”Reproach hardened Blackstar’s mew.Rowanclaw growled. “I gave up mynine lives so that my Clan could
survive.”“You gave up your Clan so that youcould survive,” Blackstar hissed.“That’s not true.” Rowanclawflattened his ears. “I died! But my Clanis a Clan once more. My son hasreturned. Tigerstar will lead them togreatness.”“At what cost?” Bluestar shifted herpaws. “If there’s one thing I know aboutShadowClan cats, it’s that they alwayshave their eyes on another Clan’s land.”Rowanclaw’seyesnarrowed.“ShadowClan must never face extinctionagain. It needs its territory back.”“But SkyClan cannot lose its land.”Firestar’s emerald eyes reflectedstarlight. His gaze seemed to see beyond
the starry pelts of the other cats, anddrifted toward the distant trees thatmarked SkyClan’s territory. “Theybelong beside the lake.”“Of course they belong beside thelake,” Tallstar grunted.Bluestar eyed Rowanclaw. “Willyour son let them stay?”“Tigerstar must do whatever it takestomakeShadowClanstrong,”Rowanclaw shot back.Firestarflickedhistail.“Rowanclaw is right about one thing:ShadowClan must grow strong. We can’trisk losing them again. Every Clan mustgrow strong, but not by stealinganother’s territory. They must learn tolive together. If the five Clans cannot
live as one, the coming darkness willdestroy them all.”“We’ve survived darkness before,”Crookedstar argued.“Not like this,” Firestar insisted.“These young cats don’t understand thedanger. They’ve fought invaders, they’vesurvived hardship, but they don’t yetrealize how fear can weave its way likea shadow between the Clans and howgreed can drive them apart.” The stars inFirestar’s pelt shimmered as his furprickled anxiously.Blackstar snorted. “Do you think theClans learned nothing from Darktail?”“I don’t think they learned enough.”Firestar met his gaze. “Look howDarktailsplitthem.RiverClan
withdrew. ShadowClan collapsed. At atime when they needed to work together,they drew apart.”“But RiverClan has rejoined theClans now,” Crookedstar pointed out.“And ShadowClan has a newleader,” Rowanclaw argued. “A strongleader, who will guide his ed, “who wants above all toprove his strength and the strength of hisClan. This is no time for battles.SkyClan is still finding its paws here.Their return has tested everyone. Andthe test isn’t over. They must be fullyaccepted. If the Clans can’t learn to livepeacefully together, how will they face
what is to come?” His eyes darkened.Bluestar looked away. The othersglanced nervously at one another, asthough sharing knowledge too dreadfulto speak. Firestar went on. “Together, theClans are like a paw with five clawsreaching deep into the earth. If eachclaw is strong, the paw will hold fast.But if just one claw releases its grip, allwill be swept away by the comingstorm.”“It won’t only be the lake Clans thatare lost.” Bluestar closed her eyes as thenewleaf wind rippled her fur. “With noone to remember us, StarClan willdisappear too.”“So we must warn them.” Tallstarwhisked his tail agitatedly from side to
side.“We can’t warn them more than wehave.” Bluestar sighed. “How manytimes have we told them that they mustface the future together?”Firestar narrowed his eyes. “We canonly point out the path. We can’t makethem follow it.”Bluestar looked across the lake.“Let’s hope they find the way. If theydon’t, there will be nothing of us left, noteven the warrior code.”
CHAPTER 1“Why do we have to clear all thismess?” Flypaw sat back on herhaunches. Her tabby pelt twitched as shestared at the twigs littering the clearing.“We’ve been working at it for days.”Twigbranch let go of the stick she’dbeen dragging and blinked impatiently ather apprentice. “We have to clear thetraining ground if you want to practicebattle moves here.”“Why can’t Spotpaw and Stempawhelp?” Flypaw complained. “They’ll betraining here too. And Plumpaw’sstronger than me. She’d be better at
dragging sticks.”“Plumpaw’s hunting with Eaglepawand Shellpaw, and their mentors, today,”Twigbranch said, fighting back irritation.Did I complain this much when I wasan apprentice?“Why can’t we hunt?” Flypawgrumbled.“You don’t know enough huntingmoves.”Flypaw flicked her tail. “I’d knowsome if you let me train instead ofmaking me clear sticks.”If you spent less time arguing andmore time working, we’d be finished bynow. Twigbranch swallowed back thewords. “Bramblestar wants the trainingground cleared. The storm left a mess
and he asked us to do it.” She glanced atSnappaw, who was helping Finleap haula branch to the edge of the clearing.“Your littermate isn’t complaining.”Snappaw dropped the stick. “Finleaptold me that moving sticks would makeme strong.” He puffed out his chest. “Iwant to be the strongest apprentice inThunderClan.”Flypaw scowled. “Don’t get toostrong or Bramblestar will make youclear every branch from the forest.”Finleapblinkedathersympathetically. “You’ve worked hardall morning.” He caught Twigbranch’seye. “Why don’t we teach them a fewbattle moves?”Snappaw pricked his ears. “Really?”
“Please!” Flypaw bounced past thesticks and crouched excitedly. Stickingher hindquarters in the air, she bared herteeth and lashed her tail. “Look! I’mready to attack.”With a purr, Snappaw rushed to joinher.Exasperated, Twigbranch closed hereyes. At this rate, they’d never clear thetrainingground.WhatwouldBramblestar think if she couldn’t evenmake her apprentice do the simplest oftasks? Would he regret making her amentor so soon?Fur brushed her cheek. Finleap wasweaving around her. “We can finishclearing the rest of the sticks later,” hemeowed. “There’s no harm in taking
some time out to go over some battleskills.” He looked so eager that shedidn’t want to disappoint him. But shehadn’t planned to teach battle skillstoday. She hadn’t practiced.“I don’t know.” She frowned.“What are you worried about?”Finleap blinked at her. “We’re mentors!We’re not breaking any rules by trainingour apprentices.”Twigbranch lowered her voice.“What if I do it wrong?”Finleap’s eyes widened. “Howcould you do anything wrong? You werean apprentice for the longest time. Youmust know everything there is to knowabout training.” Admiration shoneclearly in his wide yellow eyes.
Twigbranch purred softly, feelingcomforted. It was hard not to loveFinleap. He was clumsy and tactless attimes, but his heart was always in theright place.Everyone expected they would bemates soon, especially Finleap. Hehardly left her side, he purred at all herjokes, and he brought her prey from thefresh-kill pile every evening. She waslucky to have him.And yet she wasn’t sure she wasready to become mates. She had not beena warrior for very long, and she had anapprentice who needed training. Lots oftraining!More than anything, she wanted toprove she was worthy of ThunderClan.
She had changed her mind so many timesas an apprentice, leaving for SkyClanand returning again. She wantedThunderClan to know she was loyal.And she was determined to earn theClan’s respect. She didn’t have time toworry about a mate yet.“Come on!” Finleap padded towardSnappaw and Flypaw. Snappaw hadflattened his belly to the earth and wasenthusiastically hissing at Flypaw.Flypaw lashed her tail and pretended tohiss back. Finleap stepped between themand beckoned them to their paws with aflick of his tail. “You won’t win anybattles by making faces,” he purred.“We weren’t making faces,”Snappaw mewed indignantly. “We were
being fierce.”“I’ve seen fiercer hedgehogs.”Twigbranch stepped over the scatteredsticks and joined them.Flypaw blinked at her eagerly.“What are you going to teach us?”“Follow me.” Twigbranch led herapprentice away from Finleap andSnappaw. She didn’t want anyonewatching her first attempt at battletraining. Stopping at the edge of theclearing, she brushed away twigs withher paws. “Let’s see how you react to anambush.”Flypaw’s ears twitched nervously.“An ambush?”“Walk along the edge of the clearing.I’m going to attack you from the side.
Keep your balance. Don’t let me knockyou off your paws.” It seemed toTwigbranch like an easy lesson. Why didFlypaw look so worried?“Will you tell me when you’re aboutto attack?” the striped tabby asked.Twigbranch blinked. “The wholepoint of an ambush is surprise.”“But I’m still learning.”“This is the best way to learn.”Twigbranch shifted her paws and hopedshe was right. Before Flypaw could askany more questions, she pushed throughthe bracken surrounding the smallclearing and ducked behind the stems.She waited for Flypaw to start walking.But Flypaw was watching Finleap andSnappaw train. They tumbled over the
sandy earth. Snappaw struggled free ofhis mentor and leaped clumsily to hispaws. “Let me try again!”“Flypaw!” Irritably, Twigbranchtwitched her tail.Flypaw snapped her gaze guiltilytoward the bracken and began pacingalong the edge of the clearing. Keepinglow, Twigbranch shadowed her. She waspleased to see Flypaw’s ears prickedand her tail centered. The apprenticewas clearly alert. Tensing, Twigbranchprepared to pounce. As she bunched hermuscles, a bird gave a warning cryoverhead. Flypaw looked up at it just asTwigbranchleaped.Twigbranchslammed into her. With a startled yelp,Flypaw lost her balance and rolled onto
the ground.Twigbranch leaped to her paws.“That was easier than tumbling asparrow!” She glared down at Flypaw,not giving her a chance to answer. “Youknew I was going to ambush you! Yourlegs should have been braced for , Flypaw scrambled to herpaws.“You live in a forest! If you getdistracted every time you hear a bird,you’re never going to learn how to fight,or hunt!” Twigbranch shook out her peltcrossly. Flypaw was so unfocused! Howwould she teach her anything? WhileSnappaw, Spotpaw, and the others were
earning their warrior names, she’d stillbe trying to teach Flypaw how to stalkbutterflies! I’ll look like the worstmentor ever.“Let’s try it again,” Flypaw mewed.“I’ll be ready next time.”“Try saying that to a ShadowClanpatrol when they steal your prey.”Twigbranch pushed her way through thebracken once more and waited forFlypaw to start pacing. “Keep low, andpush your weight through your paws asyou walk,” she called through the stems.Flypaw dropped her belly andpadded awkwardly around the clearing.Twigbranch sighed. She looks like aduck. Shadowing her, she followed herapprentice for a few tail-lengths, then
leaped. Exploding from the bracken, sheslammed into Flypaw’s flank. Flypawshrieked with surprise, threw herforepaws into the air, and twisted beforelosing her balance and thumping onto theearth.Twigbranch stared at her. “That wasthe worst defensive move I’ve everseen.”Flypaw found her paws and shookthe dust from her fur. Her eyes wereround. “I didn’t expect you to hit me sohard.”“I was ambushing you!” Twigbranchsnapped. “This isn’t the nursery. You’renot play-fighting now.”Flypaw glared at her. “You want meto fail,” she accused. “That’s why you’re
making it so hard. How am I meant toknow what to do if you just keepknocking me off my paws?”Twigbranch pressed back herfrustration and tried to remember what ithad been like when she’d first startedtraining. It seemed such a long time ago.“Okay.” Forcing her mew to be gentle,she looked at Flypaw. “Place your pawslike this.” Reaching out, she adjustedeach of Flypaw’s legs until the youngtabby was standing square and firm.“Now sink down into your pads, asthough you’re as heavy as a badger.” Shewatched as Flypaw flexed, findingstrength in her stance. “This time, Iwon’t come out of the bracken. You’llsee me leap. Just try to keep your
balance.”Flypaw nodded, her eyes dark withconcentration.At least she’s trying. Twigbranchtook a few steps back, then leaped atFlypaw’s flank. It was a soft attack, butfirm, and she pushed hard againstFlypaw, relieved to feel resistance asshe threw her weight against the youngshe-cat. Flypaw staggered, but kept lowand didn’t fall.Twigbranch dropped lightly backonto all fours. “Not bad,” she conceded.“Considering you knew the attack wascoming. I’m not sure there’s enoughstrength in your legs to withstand asurprise attack, but we can work onthat.”
“I thought she did well.” Finleap’smew took Twigbranch by surprise. Thebrown tom padded toward them,Snappaw bouncing at his side. “She hasa firm stance. And she’s smaller thanyou. But she still managed to stay on herpaws.”Twigbranch frowned at him. “I’m notsure she deserves that much praise,” shecautioned. “She’s got a lot to learn.”“We’ve both got loads to learn.”Snappaw wove happily around hislittermate. “It’s going to be fun! Finleaphas already taught me how to dive undera cat’s belly. You should teach Flypawhow to do that. Finleap says it’s a usefultechnique for smaller cats. He says I’m anatural.”
“I’m not sure I’m a natural.”Flypaw’s ears twitched crossly.“Of course you are!” Finleapreassured her. “With Lionblaze andCinderheart as parents, how could yoube anything else?”Flypaw’s eyes brightened, andTwigbranch felt a twinge of irritation. IfFinleap spoiled Flypaw with praise,would she even try to improve herskills? “There’s no such thing as anatural warrior,” she meowed curtly.“Skill comes with hard work andtraining.”“You must be very skilled. Youtrained for moons,” Flypaw muttered.The apprentice’s words stung.Twigbranch flattened her ears. She had
only trained for so long because she hadgone from one Clan to another. It wasn’tthat she hadn’t been ready. “The firstthing a warrior must learn is respect!”Flypaw stared at the ground.Finleap whisked his tail. “Why don’tyou two clear the last few sticks?” Henodded to Flypaw and Snappaw.“Twigbranch and I are going to check theborder. Meet us there when you’re done.We can show you how to lay markers. Isthat okay with you, Twigbranch?” Hedidn’t give her a chance to agree, butnudged her out of the clearing and alongthe rabbit track that led to theShadowClan border.“Did you hear what she said to me?”Twigbranch was indignant. “That’s what
you get when you praise them too much.Cheeky fox! I should have clawed herears.”“Do you want her to be scared ofyou?” Finleap didn’t look at Twigbranchas he padded at her side.“She might listen to me more, if shewere.”“You don’t believe that, do you?”“She has the mind of a butterfly!Always distracted. Always wishing shewere doing something else.”“You’ve only been training her forthree days,” Finleap reasoned. “Sheprobably has strengths you haven’t seenyet.”“I’ll never see them if you keeptelling her she’s a natural!” Twigbranch
huffed. “She won’t bother to learn.”“I just wanted to encourage her.”“Encourage your own apprentice,”Twigbranch snapped. “Leave minealone.”Finleap stopped and gazed solemnlyat Twigbranch. “I’m just worried you’rebeing too sharp with her. You don’t wantto discourage Flypaw before she’slearned anything. Don’t you rememberhow unhappy you were when Sparkpeltwas hard on you?”“That was different.” Twigbranch’spelt pricked uncomfortably. Sparkpelthad been judgmental and unforgiving asa mentor when Twigbranch had rejoinedThunderClan. It had made her miserable.“Sparkpelt was just testing my loyalty.”
“Did your loyalty need testing?”“No!” Twigbranch turned away.Mentoring was challenging enoughwithout Finleap criticizing her. “I’m justdoing what I think is right!”“I know.” Finleap spoke softly. “It’sscary having so much responsibility.And these are our first apprentices. Butit’s okay for us to make mistakes and it’sokay for them to make mistakes. We’relearning together.”“But I’m supposed to know what todo.” A lump sat in Twigbranch’s throatlike a stone.“Why?” Finleap wove around herand stopped as he caught her eye.“You’re a great warrior, Twigbranch.And you’re kind. You don’t have to stop
being kind just because you’re a mentor.Trust your instincts. Push Flypaw whenshe needs pushing, but encourage hertoo. You must know how good a littleencouragement can feel when you’refacing something new and difficult.”There was warmth in his gaze thattouched Twigbranch’s heart. He reallycared whether she’d be a good mentor.He wanted her to succeed. She purredand touched her nose to his.“Besides,” he went on, “mentoringwill teach us patience. Imagine whatgood parents we’ll be when we havekits.”When we have kits! Twigbranchpulled away. Finleap’s gaze was misty.Was he really thinking about having kits
already? They weren’t even mates yet.Twigbranch wasn’t ready to be tied tothe nursery. She was barely ready tothink about having a mate.She changed the subject. “Let’scheck the border.” She didn’t want tohurt Finleap’s feelings. “Flypaw!Snappaw! This way!” she called to theapprentices, scanning the bracken untilthey appeared, then turned and headedalong the trail toward ShadowClan’sterritory.Flypaw caught up to her as shereached the scent line. “Is this theborder?”“Can’t you smell it?” Twigbranchopened her mouth and tasted the stenchofShadowClanminglingwith
ThunderClan scent.Flypaw copied her, frowning withconcentration. “Is that musky smellShadowClan?”“Yes.” Twigbranch followed thescent line. The markers were fresh. Shestopped beside the root of a pine and lefther own marker. “Leave your scent onthe next tree,” she told Flypaw.As Flypaw crouched beside thetrunk, Finleap and Snappaw sniffed thetrees a few tail-lengths away.Finleap wrinkled his nose. “It smellslike ShadowClan cats have been leavingscent marks twice a day.”Twigbranch shrugged. “They’reprobably just pleased to have theirterritory back.”
“I guess.” As Finleap padded to herside, Snappaw hurried ahead withFlypaw.“Can we mark every tree?” Snappawasked.“It’s a long border,” Finleap toldhim. “Save some scent for fartheralong.”Flypaw was sniffing a fern clump.Curled fronds poked up from the moistearth. “There are so many scents outhere.” She turned to sniff between theroots of a tree where fresh grass wassprouting. Then she dug through a heapof rotting leaf mold and sniffed until shesneezed. “What does a mouse smelllike?” she asked.Snappaw padded past her. “You’ve
smelled mouse before!” he meowed.“We’ve eaten them in camp.”“I’ve never smelled a live mouse.”Flypaw blinked at Twigbranch. “Do theysmell different from dead mice?”“That’s a good question!” Finleapcommented before Twigbranch couldanswer.She shot him a look. Let me train myown apprentice. “Live mice smellsharper than dead ones,” she toldFlypaw.“Sharper?” Flypaw looked puzzled.“They have a . . .” Twigbranchsearched for the word. “A tang. You’llunderstand when you smell one.”But Flypaw had turned away.Twigbranch flexed her claws with
irritation. Was it always going to be hardto keep Flypaw’s attention?The striped tabby’s ears werepricked. “I can smell something else,”Flypaw mewed.“Is it tangy?” Snappaw lifted hismuzzle. “Are there mice around?”Twigbranch tasted the air. The scentmarkers were so strong here it was hardto detect another scent. But Flypaw wasright. A musky smell tainted the air.“It smells like a ShadowClan cat,”Finleap meowed.Twigbranch’s pelt prickled. Was apatrol approaching the border?Finleap stalked along the border.“This way,” he breathed. “Follow me,but be quiet.”
Snappaw and Flypaw hurried behindhim, bumping into each other as theytried to stay close. Twigbranchfollowed. Another scent was mingledwith the ShadowClan smell. Blood. Shequickened her pace. Skirting pastFinleap, Flypaw, and Snappaw, she tookthe lead. She strained to see between thetree trunks and, pricking her ears, hearda groan. Breaking into a run, she hurriedtoward the sound.A large bundle of silver mesh wascaught between two trees. Beneath themass of thorny twine was a brown-andwhitepelt.Puddleshine,theShadowClan medicinecat,wasstruggling underneath it, groaning withpain. The scent of blood was strong.
“Puddleshine!” She hurried towardhim, careful not to touch the vines, whichmassed like brambles between the trees.Borage sprouted around him. Was thatwhat he’d been reaching for? She couldsee that his pelt was caught on the sharpthorns of the vines. Blood welled atevery wound.“Don’t move. You’ll make it worse.”Panic fluttered in her chest as she metthe ShadowClan medicine cat’s agonizedgaze. “We’ll get you out,” she promised.“Just lie still.”Finleap caught up, Flypaw andSnappaw at his heels.“What is this?” Flypaw stared at themesh, her eyes wide with horror.“It’s silverthorn. A Twoleg vine,”
Finleap explained. “They use it to makebarriers around their land. The thornskeep animals trapped in their meadows.Only StarClan knows why they left abundle of it here.”“I can reach him.” Snappaw droppedonto his belly and squirmed beneath thesilverthorn.“Be careful!” Finleap warned.SnappawwriggledtowardPuddleshine. “We’ll get you out,” he toldthe medicine cat.“Every time I move, I get moretangled.” Puddleshine sounded wearywith pain.Finleap looked at Flypaw. “Can youfind your way back to camp?”Flypaw nodded.
“Run home and fetch help. TellBramblestar that we’ll need many pawsto get Puddleshine out. And we’ll need amedicine cat. He’s bleeding badly.”Twigbranch called to Snappaw. “Gowith her. We’ll stay with Puddleshine.”She didn’t trust Flypaw to fetch helpalone. What if she forgot the message orgot distracted along the way?Snappaw wriggled from underneaththe silverthorn, and the two apprenticeshared away between the trees, urgingeach other to run as fast as they could.Twigbranch flattened herself to theground and peered at Puddleshinethrough the silverthorn. “They’ll be backwith help soon.”Puddleshine looked at her, his eyes
glittering with pain. “The thorns aresticking in everywhere,” he meowedweakly.The borage leaves around him werestained with his blood. Twigbranchcould see where the thorns jabbedthrough his pelt, tearing his fur on bothflanks and along his spine. One hadsnagged the back of his neck, forcing hischin to the earth. She fought back ashudderandblinkedathimencouragingly. “Our warriors will find away to get you out.”Finleap padded around the edge ofthe tangled mass, sniffing at the vines, asthough looking for a gap that might lethim reach Puddleshine.
storm." "It won't only be the lake Clans that are lost." Bluestar closed her eyes as the newleaf wind rippled her fur. "With no one to remember us, StarClan will disappear too." "So we must warn them." Tallstar whisked his tail agitatedly from side to
