by Erin Hunter
“Do you think they followed us home?” Guilt wormed beneath Alderpaw’s pelt.
“Probably.” Bramblestar met his gaze. “But you can’t blame yourself for what other cats choose to do.”
Alderpaw shifted his paws, wishing it were that simple. “Why do you think they’ve come here?” The question had been niggling in Alderpaw’s thoughts since he’d recognized Darktail. “Darktail said he had a reason.”
Bramblestar looked away. “Who can say why rogues act like rogues? All we can do is protect our Clan.” He leaned closer to Alderpaw. “How many of them were there in the gorge?”
“I don’t know.” Alderpaw tried to remember. “But it was definitely a bigger group than the one that attacked the WindClan patrol.”
Bramblestar’s gaze darkened. “So there might be more of them in the forest.”
“Yes. Squirrelflight said that there were none left in the gorge.” Alderpaw shifted uneasily. Was the forest full of rogues? Why had they come here? “We should warn Leafpool,” he whispered.
“We should warn all the Clans.” Bramblestar padded from the ferns and called to his Clanmates. “Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting.”
Alderpaw watched as his father leaped onto the Highledge.
Brackenfur, Cloudtail, Brightheart, and Thornclaw padded from the warriors’ den. Whitewing, Berrynose, and Poppyfrost slunk out from beneath the juniper. Squirrelflight slid from Bramblestar’s den on the Highledge and jumped down to stand with her Clanmates. As Jayfeather and Sparkpaw emerged from the medicine den, Dovewing and Cherryfall padded from the shelter of the fallen beech.
Dovewing glanced around. “Has anyone seen Ivypool?” Her blue eyes brimmed with worry.
“She’s hunting with Fernsong.” Alderpaw padded to her side.
Dovewing’s pelt spiked anxiously. “I hope they don’t bump into those rogues.”
Cherryfall pressed closer to her friend. “Ivypool survived the Dark Forest. She can handle a few rogues.”
“I hope so.” Dovewing huddled against the rain.
Onestar wove through the crowd and stood at the front. Water streamed down his whiskers as he lifted his face to the Highledge. “I want to take Furzepelt back to our camp so we can sit vigil.”
Jayfeather stepped forward. “Oatclaw and Emberfoot are too wounded to help carry her. Movement will reopen their wounds. They should stay here for a few days.”
Onestar glared at him. “They are warriors. They are strong. They will travel with me.”
Unseeing, Jayfeather held the WindClan leader’s gaze. “I have an apprentice; Kestrelflight has none. Let him save his herbs and his energy for his Clanmates on the moor. We can take care of Oatclaw and Emberfoot until they are fit to travel.”
Onestar glared at Bramblestar, whose manner turned gentle and coaxing. “I will send a patrol home with you, Onestar. They can help carry Furzepelt’s body.”
Onestar’s tail flicked angrily.
Jayfeather held his ground. “You’ve lost one Clanmate today,” he meowed steadily. “Don’t risk another.”
Onestar snorted. “Very well.”
“You decide wisely, Onestar.” Bramblestar’s gaze flicked around the Clan. “Snowbush, Blossomfall, and Berrynose. Escort Onestar home. Carry Furzepelt’s body as though she were your Clanmate.”
The three warriors nodded as Bramblestar went on.
“Dangerous rogues are in the forest. We don’t know how many there are. They have shown that they are willing to fight to the death. Until we know why they are here and what they intend to do next, we must be on our guard. And we must warn ShadowClan and RiverClan of the danger.” Again he scanned the cats gathered below the Highledge. “Lionblaze. Take Cinderheart, Birchfall, Sparkpaw, and Poppyfrost. Travel to RiverClan’s camp and warn Mistystar about the rogues. I will take Cherryfall, Bumblestripe, Dovewing, and Stormcloud to ShadowClan to warn Rowanstar.”
“I want to come!” A tiny squeak sounded from the nursery.
Alderpaw turned as he recognized Twigkit’s mew. She was struggling out of the nursery entrance.
Cinderheart stared at the kit as she splattered onto the muddy ground and stared up at Bramblestar.
“Please let me come with you to ShadowClan. I want to see my sister!”
“Don’t be mouse-brained!” Poppyfrost stared at her from the clearing.
Thornclaw snorted. “This is a patrol, not a nursery!”
Disapproving murmurs rippled through the gathered cats.
Alderpaw pushed past his Clanmates and stopped beside Twigkit. “You’re too young to travel to ShadowClan,” he told her gently. “Especially with rogues in the forest.”
She stared up at him, her eyes as wide as an owl’s. “That’s why I have to go. I have to make sure Violetkit is safe.” She was trembling.
Cinderheart moved closer to the kit and wrapped her tail around her. Rain was soaking Twigkit’s pelt. “Alderpaw is right,” she murmured. “You’re too young to be out in the forest. Especially in weather like this and with rogues around.”
Twigkit pulled away. “But Violetkit’s my sister! What if they’ve hurt her? She should be with me, where it’s safe.”
Alderpaw’s heart twisted. How would he feel if Sparkpaw were in danger? He looked up at his father. “Let me come with you,” he meowed. “I can check on Violetkit and speak to Leafpool while I’m there.” He glanced at Jayfeather hopefully, relieved when he saw Jayfeather nodding.
“It would be good to know how much longer Leafpool will be away,” Jayfeather agreed.
Bramblestar bowed his head. “Okay, you can come.”
Alderpaw bent down and touched his nose to Twigkit’s wet pelt. “I can’t bring Violetkit back with me, but I can make sure she will be safe.”
Twigkit looked up at Alderpaw with wide, serious eyes. After a moment she leaned up to nuzzle his cheek. “Okay,” she murmured. “I trust you, Alderpaw.”
Alderpaw closed his eyes, feeling the soft fluff of Twigkit’s cheek against his own. I hope I’m worthy of your trust, Twigkit. He heaved in a breath. I hope I can make sure we will all be safe.
CHAPTER 4
“Come back, Alderpaw!”
Alderpaw halted and turned. He’d gotten too far ahead of the group again, and Bramblestar was calling him back. Frustration rippled through his pelt. You’re all too slow! What if the rogues had hurt Violetkit? He had to find out. “Can’t we move any faster?” he yowled to Bramblestar.
“We need to be wary.” Bramblestar caught him up. “The rogues could be anywhere. And ShadowClan won’t thank us for charging across their border.”
Pacing restlessly, Alderpaw waited with Bramblestar as Cherryfall, Bumblestripe, Dovewing, and Stormcloud scanned the bushes along the trail. He could see the ShadowClan border ahead, where the oaks turned to pines. The scent of their sap tasted sharp on his tongue.
The rain was easing. Bumblestripe shook out his pelt as he stopped beside Alderpaw. His fur stood on end, spiked and wet.
Cherryfall purred with amusement and nudged his shoulder with her nose. “You look like a hedgehog.”
“And you look like a RiverClan cat,” Bumblestripe teased, flicking raindrops from her whiskers with his nose.
Bramblestar paced around them, mouth open as he tasted the air. “Concentrate!” he ordered. “There could be rogues anywhere.”
“We’ve been checking for their scent all the way and smelled nothing,” Stormcloud pointed out.
Dovewing pricked her ears. “They’ve probably run away.”
Bramblestar scanned the forest. “I don’t think these rogues scare that easily.” He glanced at Alderpaw, and Alderpaw guessed what he was thinking. They knew that the rogues were not afraid of Clan cats—not after what they’d done to SkyClan. “We should still check for their scent along the border before we cross it. They may have come the long way around.”
“But we need to get to ShadowClan’s camp and wa
rn them.” Alderpaw plucked at the ground impatiently. And check on Violetkit.
“Knowing where the rogues went is more important.” Bramblestar padded past, following a trail that shadowed the border.
Stormcloud followed, with Bumblestripe, Dovewing, and Cherryfall at his heels. Impatiently Alderpaw trotted after them.
Bramblestar stopped suddenly and lifted his muzzle. He didn’t need to speak. The others had smelled the scent too.
“They’ve passed this way.” Stormcloud sniffed a thornbush, his nose wrinkling.
“Were they the same ones you fought earlier?” Dovewing asked.
Bramblestar narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. “It’s the same scent.”
Bumblestripe sniffed. “All rogues smell the same to me.”
Bramblestar looked at him sharply. “You’d better learn to tell the difference. We might be dealing with more of them than we know.”
Dovewing’s eyes widened. “Is it an invasion?”
Cherryfall was sniffing the thornbush now, her pelt rippling with fear. “It’s them, isn’t it?” she gasped. “The ones who drove—”
Alderpaw’s heart lurched. Cherryfall had been on the quest with him. She’d met the rogues. And she knew about SkyClan. Before she could betray the secret to Stormcloud, Bumblestripe, and Dovewing, he interrupted. “They’re the ones we met on our quest,” he confirmed, glaring at her meaningfully.
She shifted her paws self-consciously. “Oh,” she mumbled.
Dovewing was still staring at Bramblestar. “Do you know who they are?”
“Alderpaw and the others encountered the same rogues on their quest,” Bramblestar admitted.
Stormcloud was frowning. “Why have they come here?”
Bramblestar padded to a bramble and sniffed it. “I don’t know. Let’s hope they are just passing through.”
We have a mission here.
Alderpaw felt his pelt twitch. He was uncomfortable keeping secrets from his Clanmates.
Paws thrummed over the forest floor nearby.
Alderpaw stiffened, his heart quickening. Hackles lifting, he backed closer to Bumblestripe as the patrol bunched together.
Bumblestripe tasted the air. “Is it the rogues?”
Stormcloud jerked his muzzle toward the pines. Shapes moved between the trunks.
“No!” Dovewing suddenly hurried toward the border. She looked back at the patrol. “It’s ShadowClan.” Her eyes were bright.
Alderpaw glimpsed familiar pelts between the trees. Tigerheart was trotting toward them, Stonewing and Juniperpaw beside him. His heart quickened with hope as he saw Tawnypelt at the rear. She was Needlepaw’s mentor. Was Needlepaw with them?
The ShadowClan patrol spread out as they neared the scent line and glared at the ThunderClan cats. Disappointment pricked Alderpaw’s belly as he saw that Needlepaw wasn’t one of them.
“What are you doing here?” Tigerheart demanded.
Dovewing padded toward him. “Tigerheart!” She sounded pleased to see him. “We have news.”
Tigerheart showed his teeth as she stepped over the border.
She stopped, her ears twitching with surprise.
Tawnypelt padded forward and looked at Bramblestar. “What news?” Her nose was twitching. Distractedly, she sniffed the brambles that straddled the border. “What’s that scent? We’ve been smelling it ever since we left camp.”
“Rogues,” Bramblestar told her. “That’s why we’ve come. We need to speak to Rowanstar.”
“Rogues? On our land?” Tawnypelt’s tail twitched.
Alderpaw felt a glimmer of relief. Violetkit must be safe if ShadowClan wasn’t even aware of the rogues’ presence.
“I must speak to Rowanstar,” Bramblestar insisted.
Tawnypelt nodded. “Tigerheart, escort them to the camp. I’ll follow this scent trail with Stonewing and Juniperpaw.”
“Be careful,” Bramblestar warned. “These rogues aren’t strays or loners. They’re dangerous. If you find them, send for help.” He looked at Juniperpaw. He was lithe, his black pelt showing muscles beneath, but he was small. “Two warriors and an apprentice won’t be enough to fight them.”
Juniperpaw puffed out his pelt. “I’m strong.”
“These rogues are stronger,” Bramblestar told her darkly. He crossed the border, meeting Tigerheart’s gaze. “Lead the way. Rowanstar must be informed as soon as possible.”
Tigerheart glanced at Tawnypelt, then nodded. “Follow me.”
Alderpaw padded beside Bumblestripe as Bramblestar fell into step behind Tigerheart. As leaves turned to pine needles beneath his paws, he glanced back at Tawnypelt, Stonewing, and Juniperpaw. “Should Bramblestar have warned them that the rogues killed Furzepelt and stole one of Onestar’s lives?” he whispered.
Bumblestripe shook his head. “Onestar won’t want the news that he’s lost a life to spread around. Leaders don’t like to appear vulnerable.”
Alderpaw suddenly wondered if his father had ever lost a life. He padded between the pines, recognizing the trail to the camp as they neared.
As Tigerheart led the patrol inside, surprised faces turned to glare at them.
Snowbird showed her teeth. “ThunderClan again?”
Beside her, Scorchfur grunted. “It’s bad enough that one of them has to live with us. The others don’t have to visit.”
Bramblestar kept his gaze on Tigerheart. Alderpaw scanned the camp. Was Needlepaw here? What about Violetkit? He searched for a glimpse of the kit’s black-and-white pelt. There was no sign. Perhaps she was with Needlepaw. His eye wandered further across the camp as he thought of the silver she-cat. Beepaw and Strikepaw were practicing battle moves at the edge of the clearing, concentrating so hard that they didn’t notice the ThunderClan patrol. Needlepaw wasn’t with them. She wasn’t at the fresh-kill pile either. Where was she?
“Bramblestar.” Rowanstar’s deep mew snapped Alderpaw’s attention back. He almost bumped into Cherryfall, who had stopped beside Bramblestar.
The ShadowClan leader stood at the head of the clearing, his eyes narrow with suspicion. “Have you come to fetch your medicine cat? She’s out gathering herbs.”
Crowfrost padded from a den in the camp wall as Tigerheart peeled away from the patrol and stood squarely beside Rowanstar.
“They say they have news,” Tigerheart meowed.
“What news?” Rowanstar fixed his gaze on Bramblestar.
“Onestar and his patrol challenged a gang of rogues that was nosing around our territory. The rogues attacked. Furzepelt was killed and Onestar . . .” Bramblestar hesitated. “Onestar was badly injured. So were the other two members of his patrol.”
Alderpaw exchanged glances with Bumblestripe. The young warrior had been right. Bramblestar wanted to protect Onestar.
“How many rogues were there?” Rowanstar asked.
“Six.”
Rowanstar’s gaze sharpened with surprise. “Is that all?”
“They might have killed more WindClan warriors if we hadn’t sent a patrol to help,” Bramblestar told him steadily.
“So you say.” Rowanstar sounded unconvinced. “Does ThunderClan have to believe no other Clan can survive without them?”
Bramblestar dipped his head. “I’m just reporting the truth. The safety of your Clan may depend on it.”
Dovewing stepped forward. “Their scent is already on your territory!”
Bramblestar shot her a warning glance. “We don’t know how many rogues might be in the woods.”
“What makes you think there might be more?” Rowanstar narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
“They are from a large gang of rogues our patrol met on their quest. We can’t presume that only a few of them came to the lake.” Bramblestar turned his head and glanced around the camp. “We picked up a rogue scent trail leading from our land to yours. I’d like your permission to follow it. I want to see if the rogues have left our territories.”
Rowanstar flexed his claws. “You want to search Sha
dowClan territory?”
“That’s not why we came,” Bramblestar met the ShadowClan leader’s gaze. “But now that we know they’ve been here, I’d like to find out where they’ve gone.”
“No.” Rowanstar’s refusal was instant. “ShadowClan can guard its own territory. It doesn’t need help from ThunderClan.”
Bramblestar dipped his head. “I understand your concerns, Rowanstar. But we know the scent. I still have rogue blood beneath my claws. Let’s at least send a joint patrol—ShadowClan and ThunderClan—to track their trail. We’d be stronger together, and this threatens every Clan. Don’t forget the prophecy: Embrace what you find in the shadows, for only they can clear the sky. Perhaps these rogues are connected. We have not seen such cruel cats since the battle with the Dark Forest. They might be the danger that StarClan is warning us about.”
Tigerheart’s eyes flashed. “The prophecy meant the kits!”
Crowfrost shifted his paws. “Bramblestar may have a point.”
Rowanstar jerked his gaze to his deputy.
Crowfrost held his ground. “What if the rogues are linked with the prophecy? Perhaps we should track them together.”
Tigerheart growled. “Why don’t we track them alone and report what we find at the next Gathering?”
Rowanstar frowned thoughtfully. “You said Onestar was badly wounded?” He spoke to Bramblestar. “How badly?”
Bramblestar returned his gaze steadily. “Badly enough.”
Rowanstar’s eyes sparked with interest. “So,” he growled. “These rogues truly are dangerous.”
Bumblestripe leaned closer to Alderpaw. “He’s worried he might be the next leader to lose a life.”
“Fine,” Rowanstar agreed. “We will send a patrol to track these rogues with you. Crowfrost, you will lead it. Take Tigerheart, Scorchfur, and Spikefur with you.”
A dark brown tom with a tuft of fur sticking up between his ears crossed the clearing toward them. “Did you say my name?”
“You’re going with these cats.” Rowanstar threw a scornful look at the ThunderClan patrol. Alderpaw heard Bumblestripe swallow back a growl. “There are rogues on our land. You will track them and find where they’ve gone.”