Warriors: Power of Three 01 - The Sight (26 page)

Onestar nodded. “Blackstar talks as though StarClan should grant us nothing but blessings. Does he want us to live the spoiled life of kittypets?”

Blackstar shot him a look of cold fury.

Ashfur got to his paws. “Pure blood is no guarantee of virtue!”

“May I have permission to speak?” Hollypaw turned and saw Squirrelflight padding her way to the front of the Clan. Firestar nodded.

Squirrelflight gazed calmly around the Clans. Hollypaw felt pride warming her pelt.
Go on, Squirrelflight!

“We have all suffered,” Squirrelflight acknowledged. “But
we must look forward, not back. Newleaf has come. Our territories are warming up and filling with prey. Thanks to Mothwing, we all have a good supply of catmint.”

As she spoke, a warm breeze swept across the island. The clearing brightened as the clouds started to drift away from the moon.

“StarClan agrees with her!”

“It's a sign!”

Pelts smoothed and tails fell still as the cats began to calm down.

Squirrelflight went on. “This is the start of our second newleaf by the lake. We should mark its return with a special Gathering.”

Hollypaw leaned forward, puzzled.

“While the moon is still full, we could meet in daylight.”

“Why should we do that?” Blackstar snapped. “The truce comes only with the full moon.”

“The moon is as full during the day as it is at night,” Crowfeather pointed out.

“We should meet,” Squirrelflight pressed, “to share skills and training methods. To show that we have not forgotten the Great Journey that brought us here, when the warrior code protected us as one.”

“We could have contests!” For the first time Pebblepaw spoke. The RiverClan apprentice's eyes were shining with enthusiasm.

“The apprentices from each Clan could compete against
one another to see who has the best skills!” Heatherpaw called out.

Even Owlpaw looked interested. “I bet I could beat any ThunderClan cat at hunting!” he boasted.

“No cat could beat Pouncepaw at catching fish!” called Mistyfoot.

“That's cheating!” Lionpaw mewed. “Every cat knows only RiverClan enjoy getting their paws wet!”

Hollypaw realized that the Clans' fear and anger had turned to excitement and friendly challenge. Her mother had distracted them from accusations of impure blood by reminding them of the time they had united to make the Great Journey, and of how much they could still offer to one another. Hollypaw glanced up at Firestar. The ThunderClan leader sat in silence, his eyes gleaming with pride as he looked down at Squirrelflight.

Even Onestar seemed keen. “Where should we hold this competition?”

“What about on the land where we first sheltered when we arrived at the lake?” Ashfur answered.

Leopardstar shook her head. “It's too marshy.”

“The land between the forest and the lake on our territory would be great for a Gathering,” Firestar offered. “It's grassy, so all cats will be used to the terrain. And it drains well even in the wettest weather. There's enough space, and no cat will get his paws wet. So long as each Clan brings its own fresh-kill, we could meet there.”

“The moon will still be almost full in two sunrises,” Leopardstar meowed. “Shall we meet then?” She gazed around the Clans. Heads were nodding and tails flicking with excitement.

“Very well,” Leopardstar concluded. She turned to Firestar. “If it's all right with you, we will meet at sunhigh.”

Firestar nodded.

Hollypaw shifted her paws, suddenly uneasy. The Gathering would be fun, but it wouldn't stop the other Clans from blaming ThunderClan's mixed blood the next time something went wrong.

“Then it's settled,” Onestar agreed. He leaped down from the tree, followed by Firestar and Leopardstar. Only Blackstar lingered, his eyes burning with anger.

But the Gathering was breaking up, the cats padding away from the clearing, chattering like starlings.

“Can you believe that?” Lionpaw asked.

Hollypaw glanced back at her mother, who was padding toward the trees beside Brambleclaw and Firestar. “Squirrelflight smoothed things over.”
But for how long?

“I can't wait to tell Jaypaw!” Lionpaw mewed. “Do you think he'll like the idea?”

A knot of unease twisted in Hollypaw's belly. How could a blind cat join in with the contests? “Perhaps medicine cats won't take part,” she mewed. “After all, they're not like warriors. They're more used to helping one another than competing.”

Cinderpaw came hurtling up beside them as they neared
the fallen tree. “I bet Lionpaw wins the hunting,” she panted.

Lionpaw purred self-consciously. “Well, Hollypaw will win the fighting,” he mewed.

Brook's quiet voice sounded behind them. “As long as you all try your best, your Clan will be proud of you.”

Hollypaw couldn't imagine
not
trying her best. Her pelt tingled. Perhaps this kind of Gathering might resolve something after all. It would be a chance for ThunderClan to prove to the other Clans—especially ShadowClan—that they were
all
worthy warriors, and that being Clanborn had nothing to do with it.

Sunhigh was approaching—Jaypaw could feel
the warmth on his back. He padded into the camp with a wad of dock leaves clasped in his jaws. The sour flavor had sucked all the moisture from his mouth. It disguised every other scent, and he had to rely on the memory of his paws to find the path back to the medicine den.

As he crossed the clearing, he could hear the pawsteps of his Clanmates hurrying around him. The whole Clan had been busy since before dawn preparing for the daylight Gathering.
They're only going to spend the day hunting and fighting
, Jaypaw thought irritably.
Why are they acting like it's something special? They get to do that anyway.

“Squirrelflight!” Firestar called down from Highledge.

“Yes?” She sounded out of breath.

“Did you find a good route for the squirrel hunt?”

“I sent Brambleclaw out with a patrol,” she replied. “He's checking it now. The ShadowClan border might be best. The squirrels are still busy there, digging up their nut stores.”

“What about the tree-climbing contest?” Firestar prompted.

“Spiderleg told me that the Sky Oak is in full bud, but he doesn't think it'll be damaged by having so many apprentices climbing it at once.”

“Good,” Firestar meowed. “Are there hunting patrols out? We don't want our visitors to think we are prey-poor.”

“Two. Birchfall and Thornclaw are leading them.”

“Jaypaw!” Firestar scrambled down from Highledge and caught up to him. “Leafpool will need your help today in case of any accidents. You won't be able to join in any of the contests, I'm afraid.”

The whole Clan had been tiptoeing around him like mice since the daylight Gathering had been announced, too scared to say out loud what he knew they'd all been thinking—that he would be useless in any apprentice contest. He had noticed right away how they never mentioned his name as they speculated about which apprentices would win. Jaypaw didn't reply to Firestar and scraped angrily through the bramble entrance to the medicine den.

“Oh, good!” Leafpool was waiting for him. “You found lots. Now we'll be ready for any scratches.”

Jaypaw dropped the dock leaves on the ground. He flicked his tongue, trying to wet it again. “I don't see why we have to be responsible for all the other Clans,” he complained. “If their apprentices want to show off on our territory, their own medicine cats should look after them.”

“All the medicine cats will be working together to make sure every cat is cared for properly,” Leafpool reminded him.

“I bet Willowpaw and Kestrelpaw haven't spent the
morning looking for herbs,” Jaypaw muttered. “Even
they
will have been practicing their hunting skills for the contests.”

He sensed frustration in Leafpool's quick movements as she stored the dock with the other herbs, but her mew was calm. “I know how much you want to take part, Jaypaw, but I need you to help me.”

The fury that had been simmering in Jaypaw's belly suddenly bubbled over. “Don't lie!” he fumed. “I'm not allowed to take part because there's no way I can compete against real apprentices! Firestar doesn't want me embarrassing the Clan.”

“You know that isn't true!” Leafpool told him, shocked.

“Then why doesn't he let me try one of the contests?”

“Maybe if you'd had more battle training or hunting experience, he would!” Leafpool's mew was brittle as she tried to keep her temper. “But you started your medicine training late, and the outbreak of greencough has stopped us from working on your other skills.”

Jaypaw didn't reply. Hollypaw had been a medicine cat apprentice for only the blink of an eye, and
she'd
had battle training from Leafpool. He was beginning to wonder if his mentor had decided it was a waste of time to teach him any warrior skills at all.

Leafpool changed the subject. “Squirrelflight must be getting tired. She's been busy all morning. Will you take her some herbs?”

Jaypaw padded sulkily to the herb store and mixed the leaves Squirrelflight would need, then folded them in a wrap,
which he picked up delicately between his teeth. He nosed his way out of the den and listened for his mother's voice. He found her beneath Highledge talking to Brambleclaw.

Jaypaw dropped the herbs at Squirrelflight's paws. “Leafpool wants you to eat these.”

“That's kind of her.” Squirrelflight sniffed at the herbs. “Did you mix these yourself? They smell sweeter than usual.”

“I put in some heather nectar to help with the taste,” Jaypaw mumbled.

Squirrelflight thanked him with a brisk lick between his ears. “That was thoughtful.”

“It's nothing,” he muttered. He turned away before she could do anything else embarrassing, though he couldn't ignore the small glimmer of happiness that flickered in his chest.

Suddenly pawsteps drummed through the entrance and skidded to a halt. It was Lionpaw and Hollypaw; their excitement howled into the camp like a rush of wind, rippling Jaypaw's fur.

“They're here!” Lionpaw panted.

Hollypaw trotted in circles, unable to keep still. “WindClan are heading down toward the lake!”

Foxkit's and Icekit's tiny paws pattered from the nursery.

“Are they really here?” Foxkit demanded.

“Any sign of ShadowClan?” Icekit's mew was tinged with nervousness.

“Not yet,” Lionpaw told him. “But it looks like just about the whole of WindClan have come.”

“I wish we were going!” Foxkit mewed.

“We'll have fun here,” Ferncloud called from the nursery entrance.

“Why do we have to stay in camp?” Icekit wailed. “It's not fair.”

“Life isn't fair,” Jaypaw growled, and padded mutinously back to the medicine den.
That's why I'm going to be stuck in camp like a kit!

Birchfall and Thornclaw pounded through the thorn tunnel, their patrols crowding after them. Jaypaw smelled the delicious flavors of fresh-kill. Every cat must have caught a piece of prey.

“Well done!” Firestar told them. “No cat will go hungry today.”

A yowl rang through the forest above the hollow.

“That's Leopardstar!” Lionpaw mewed. “RiverClan have arrived!”

“It must be time to go,” Hollypaw put in. “The Gathering starts at sunhigh.”

Hollypaw was taking part in one of the first contests, a match to see which apprentice had the best fighting skills. At the same time, Lionpaw would be set against a WindClan apprentice in a hunting contest. Jealousy seared Jaypaw's fur.

Rocks clattered from Highledge as Firestar bounded down into the clearing, but Jaypaw nosed his way into the medicine den, away from the eager mews of the warriors and apprentices as they paced impatiently around the entrance. He tried to block his ears as Firestar called “Good luck!” to the Clan.
But he still heard the drumming of paws as ThunderClan raced away through the thorn tunnel.

An eerie silence gripped the camp.

“Jaypaw.” Leafpool's mew sounded from the herb store. “Will you help me make up some poultices?”

Jaypaw forced away his black thoughts and padded to Leafpool's side to begin chewing up some of the dock he had brought back earlier. As they worked, Icekit and Foxkit charged noisily around the clearing.

“Don't forget,” Ferncloud was calling, “you each have to bring me a beetle, some moss, and a fly.”

“I'm going to win!” Icekit mewed.

“No, you won't,” Foxkit replied. “I'll find them first and I'll be champion!”

Their mews echoed around the deserted camp, and Jaypaw was aware of the emptiness like hunger in the pit of his belly.

Am I always going to be left behind?

“That's enough for now.” Leafpool's mew took him by surprise. “There's enough there for scratches on every cat in all four Clans.”

Jaypaw spat out the last mouthful of dock and sat back on his haunches, licking his paws to clear the taste from his tongue.

“I should be at the Gathering, in case there are injuries,” the medicine cat announced. “Besides, I want to go and watch Hollypaw fight. Why don't you come with me?”

Jaypaw shook his head. There was no way he was going if
he wasn't allowed to take part.

“Very well.” Leafpool didn't try to persuade him. Instead she padded quietly out of the den.

Left alone, Jaypaw suddenly felt lost. Far in the distance he could hear the excited cries of warriors and their apprentices drifting through the trees. He wanted to wail to StarClan that it wasn't fair. But he would not behave like a kit, however much he was treated like one. Instead, he began to tidy up the herbs, pushing all the leaves into neat piles and lining up the poultices, ready for any cats who might return injured.

Suddenly a strange sensation began to prick his tail. It crawled along his spine, setting his pelt tingling. Images flooded his mind, swelling behind his eyes.

He was buried, unable to breathe, choking on dry earth soaked in the stench of fox and badger. His mind swirled in terror. Where was the fox? The badger? He expected to feel their teeth rip his flesh at any moment. He stared wildly around, but all he could see was crumbling brown soil. Above him light flickered, then dimmed as more soil tumbled down on him, stinging his eyes, filling his ears and nostrils. He was drowning—not in water this time, but
earth
.

“Help!” Dirt filled his mouth as he tried to scream.

He scrabbled desperately, trying to fight his way out. Was StarClan so disappointed that they had ordered the earth to swallow him up? He kicked out with his hind legs, trying to fight his way up. His lungs were screaming for air. He could see his paws churning in front of his muzzle. But they were not his own mottled paws; they were pale and wide, their fur
thick and bunched at the claws.

He was seeing through Lionpaw's eyes!

Jaypaw drove the images out of his head and knew he was back in the medicine den, surrounded by the scent of leaves and with the hollow empty and silent outside.

Where was Lionpaw right now?

The hunting contest!

He would be scouring the ShadowClan border for prey.

Like lightning, Jaypaw shot out of the medicine den and pelted into the forest, every sense alive as he wove through the undergrowth like a snake. He had to get to Lionpaw before this
thing
—whatever it was—happened.

 

Hollypaw watched as Lionpaw and Breezepaw scampered up the slope and disappeared among the trees to hunt. The fur along Lionpaw's spine was spiked with excitement.

Good luck!

“Hollypaw, are you ready?” Onestar called.

Hollypaw spun around. Heatherpaw was already waiting on the patch of smooth grass, circled by warriors and apprentices, her shoulders squared, ready for the match.

“Come on, Hollypaw,” Brambleclaw urged. He stood beside Brackenfur, his eyes shining.

Hollypaw could hear the excited murmuring of the Clan cats. She felt as though fish were wriggling in her belly, but she wasn't going to show any cat she was nervous. She crouched opposite Heatherpaw, narrowing her eyes.

“Keep your claws sheathed,” Onestar ordered. He swept
his tail over the grass, and Hollypaw tensed. The WindClan apprentice was small, but Hollypaw knew that Heatherpaw had two moons' more experience than she did, and that her sleek pelt hid hard muscle.

“Begin!” Onestar called.

Heatherpaw leaped. She crashed into Hollypaw, bowling her over. Hollypaw felt teeth grip her scruff, not hard enough to break the skin, but firm enough to make her freeze with alarm. She couldn't be beaten this easily! Heatherpaw had caught her like a rabbit.

Thinking quickly, Hollypaw tucked her head and kicked out with her hind legs. She somersaulted forward, taking Heatherpaw with her and sending the WindClan apprentice sprawling onto her back. Free of her grip, Hollypaw leaped up, spun around, and flew at Heatherpaw. But her rival had rolled out of the way. Seething, Hollypaw landed on bare grass.

She glanced sideways. Heatherpaw was darting toward her. Energy flashed in her paws, and she leaped high into the air. As Heatherpaw skidded wildly beneath her, Hollypaw crashed down onto the confused WindClan cat's back. Wrapping her paws around her opponent, she rolled Heatherpaw over and began pummeling her with her hind paws.

Heatherpaw, slippery as a snake, wriggled free of her grasp. She reared onto her hind legs and faced Hollypaw with flailing forepaws. Hollypaw rose to meet her, and the two apprentices battled like dancing hares.

“Finish her, Heatherpaw!” Crowfeather called.

“Knock her off her paws!” Brackenfur yowled.

What do you think I'm trying to do?

Hollypaw's muzzle was beginning to sting. Heatherpaw's blows were strong and well aimed, and Hollypaw didn't want this to go on for much longer. Taking a deep breath, she ducked, leaving Heatherpaw flapping her paws at thin air. She scooted between Heatherpaw's hind legs, unbalancing the WindClan apprentice. Then she twisted and sank her teeth—careful not to draw blood—into Heatherpaw's scruff, pressing her chin into the ground. Heatherpaw let out an angry wail, struggling furiously, but Hollypaw had dug her claws into the earth on either side of the WindClan apprentice. Heatherpaw could not get free.

“It's all over!” Onestar meowed. “Hollypaw is the winner!”

The ThunderClan cats cheered, and Hollypaw let go.

Heatherpaw jumped up. “Well done,” she panted. “That was a great move at the end!”

“Thanks,” mewed Hollypaw. “You fought well, too.”

“Good work, Hollypaw!” Brambleclaw rushed over and swept his tail over his daughter's flank.

“She wouldn't have beaten
me
so easily,” hissed a voice close by.

Heatherpaw narrowed her eyes at Ivypaw, a ShadowClan apprentice.