Chapter 16

Spiralpaw blinked as she realized the whole Clan was gathered in the middle of the camp, their heads bowed toward a shape in the center of the clearing. At the sound of her entrance, one by one, heads slowly turned to face her. Spiralpaw felt a chill run through her as she saw the grief in every cat’s face. What had happened here?

“Spiralpaw!” an achingly familiar voice yowled. A silver flash came up to meet her, followed by a dark ginger tabby one, and then a gray-and-white one.

“Crystalpaw!” Spiralpaw purred, licking her sister’s silver ears. “Berrypaw! Curlpaw!”

“You’re back!” Crystalpaw gasped, pressing her muzzle into her shoulder. “I’ve been so worried!”

“Hi, Spiralpaw!” Berrypaw yowled. “I’m Berrypelt now! Sandpaw is Sandstripe! Lilypaw is Lilyflame–”

Curlpaw cut him off. “Where’s Swirlpaw?” she asked anxiously just as a gray-and-white tabby slipped in behind Spiralpaw. “Swirlpaw!” she exploded, covering her sister with licks. “You’re back!”

Swirlpaw licked her back, purring loudly. “Curlpaw!”

Curlpaw gazed at her sister with shining eyes. “I’m Curlflower now,” she announced proudly.

Spiralpaw was sure she saw Swirlpaw’s eyes flicker with disappointment. She knew how close the sisters were. “That’s great,” Swirlpaw whispered.

Curlflower nuzzled her sister’s shoulder affectionately. “It’ll be your turn soon,” she murmured.

“Um, Curlflower?” Berrypelt mewed nervously. “I don’t think so. Nightstar is dead, Spiralpaw.”

Spiralpaw froze where she stood, her heart dropping in her chest. The ThunderClan leader couldn’t be dead. Didn’t Nightstar say, so long ago, that she wouldn’t be killed easily, after Bubble had taken her eighth life?

“Willowbranch is getting ready to go to the Moonpool,” Crystalpaw mewed softly.

Spiralpaw’s heart seemed to skip a beat. She almost wanted to wail out loud, No! Willowbranch can’t go! Nightstar is supposed to be ThunderClan’s leader! She dug her claws into the ground, trying to control the grief and anger that hit her all at once.

A pale brown she-cat padded out from the shadows of the medicine den. “ThunderClan,” Willowbranch yowled. “Nightstar died a brave and honorable death tonight. I swear by StarClan that I will lead you well.”

“Willowbranch! Willowbranch!”

Willowbranch padded over to the camp entrance, then hesitated. “I’ll take a warrior with me,” she decided, “since there is currently no medicine cat in ThunderClan.” Her blue gaze raked across the cats. Then it settled on the cat standing right next to Spiralpaw. “Swirlpaw,” she mewed. “Would you like to come with me to the Moonpool?”

The gray-and-white tabby’s eyes widened in surprise. “O-of course,” she stammered, obviously startled that Willowbranch had invited an apprentice.

“Willowbranch!” Moonshine yowled. “Didn’t you just say you’d take a warrior with you, not an apprentice?”

Willowbranch glared at the senior warrior. “Swirlpaw is ready to become a warrior,” she pointed out. “It’s only because of the past events that she wasn’t able to.” Moonshine dipped her head respectfully.

“Come on,” Willowbranch hissed, padding determinedly out of the camp. Swirlpaw hesitated as if she didn’t believe what the pale brown she-cat had just told her, then followed her.

“Spiralpaw.”

Spiralpaw turned and realized her mother was calling to her. She bounded over to the silver she-cat. “What is it?” she asked.

“Would you like to pay your last respects to Nightstar?” Flowerstem mewed softly.

Spiralpaw’s throat tightened until she couldn’t speak, so she nodded. She padded over to the limp pile of black fur and pressed her nose against Nightstar’s cold body. “You were so kind to me when I was a kit,” she whispered. With a jolt she remembered something Nightstar had told her to do a couple moons ago, and added, “I’ll keep an eye on Flamekit and Rubykit, as you wish.” ThunderClan was still trying to figure out who would be the next medicine cat. Nightstar had suspected that one of the kits from Reddawn’s litter would be, and asked Spiralpaw to watch them.

Well, now I’m not a kit, she thought. It won’t be easy.

Spiralpaw must have fallen asleep, because when she blinked open her eyes the sun had risen already. She slowly stood up and stretched her stiff body. She jumped as she saw that Nightstar wasn’t beside her anymore, then told herself her Clanmates must have buried her already. I’ll miss her, she thought sadly. Nightstar was a great leader.

Suddenly the entrance rustled and a flash of gray-and-white exploded into camp. “Willowbranch is dead!” Swirlpaw yowled.

Every cat in the clearing froze. “What?” Leafclaw growled. “That can’t be!”

“I’m so sorry,” Swirlpaw whimpered, dropping into a crouch. Curlflower hurried up to her and curled her tail around her sister’s shoulders. “I was sleeping outside the Moonpool hollow, and then when I woke up and went to check on Willowbranch, I saw–” She broke off, then started again. “I saw Bubble slice her neck.”

The camp was silent until Rivertail mewed, “Who is Bubble?”

Spiralpaw spoke up. “Bubble is a dangerous threat!” she yowled. “She killed Ambercloud and Violetblaze and took a life from Nightstar!”

“Uh, Spiralpaw?” Snowfern mewed. “I think Bubble might have taken two lives from Nightstar.”

Spiralpaw froze. “What?” she breathed.

“We saw a black-and-ginger cat slip out of camp when we saw Nightstar’s body,” Goldenpelt explained.

“That is definitely Bubble,” Swirlpaw growled.

Spiralpaw stood where she was, too shocked to speak. She felt a chill run through her body. Bubble killed Ambercloud, Violetblaze, Nimblepaw, and Nightstar. Who is she going for now?