Chapter 4

Spiralpaw padded beside Swirlstem and Curlstar, enjoying the greenleaf sunshine warming her back.

“It feels so peaceful right now,” she observed. “Even when Bubble is still lurking around.”

“That’s true,” Swirlstem agreed, “it does. The sunshine covers it all.” All three of them snorted with laughter.

This is the best moment, Spiralpaw thought. When it’s all so bloody and creepy out there, but we just get to relax and be happy in the safety of our forest. She hopped over a large root. I really hope we can solve this Bubble problem soon. Then we can all go back to our normal lives. It all started with just one mixed up family, but it endangered all the other cats from all the other Clans.

But maybe I don’t want to go back to my normal life, Spiralpaw realized. I want to be special, and I want to have some adventure. With my friends. She closed her eyes and let herself swirl in happiness for a few moments.

“Do you know who you’re going to appoint deputy yet?” Swirlstem’s voice broke into her thoughts.

“Are you just asking that because you want to be deputy?” Curlstar teased.

“No!” Swirlstem gasped. “Of course not! I don’t want to be deputy, I’m not power-hungry, but if you do appoint me, I’ll do my best.”

Curlstar nudged her playfully. “Of course I’ll appoint you, mouse-brain. Unless someone else better than you suddenly shows up.”

“When’s the ceremony going to be?” Spiralpaw joined in.

“After this walk,” Curlstar replied. “I want it to be soon. Er…I’m not sure when it’s supposed to be, though.”

“That’s okay,” Swirlstem told her. “The Clan is pretty messed up right now, so it’s your job to keep them organized, and you can do it your own way.”

Curlstar flicked her tail at her sister’s ears affectionately. “Thanks. You’re right. I guess I can.”

“Of course you can,” Swirlstem purred.

“You two must be the best sisters ever,” Spiralpaw commented wryly.

“Oh, sorry, Spiralpaw,” Curlstar apologized. “I guess we kinda left you out.”

“You left me out in everything,” Spiralpaw replied hotly. “Ever since we came back, you two were sticking together every single moment like a fly in a web!”

“I’m sorry,” Swirlstem meowed. “I didn’t mean to—”

“I was joking, you mouse-brain!” Spiralpaw laughed. “I totally understand. I really wanted to cuddle with Crystalpaw, too. But I was too busy with training, so I didn’t get to.”

“I’m sorry about that,” Swirlstem mewed again.

“You’re sorry about everything!” Spiralpaw exclaimed. “Stop apologizing!” The three cats burst into laughter again. This is so very peaceful, she thought joyfully. And we’re so happy.

At exactly the wrong moment, a growl sounded from the trees around them, and rogue scent touched their noses.

“Oh, no,” Curlstar whispered, her eyes wide with fear. “Bubble.”

“It’s okay!” Swirlstem soothed. “She’s not that hard to fight.”

“No, it’s not that!” Curlstar meowed in a panicked voice. “I’m leader now!”

Bubble and Black, followed by two more rogues, were prowling through the trees toward them now.

“Just order us to do something!” Swirlstem urged. “Whatever comes to your mind first! Curlstar, believe in yourself!”

Curlstar took a deep breath. She paused for a moment, then mewed quietly, “We’re outnumbered. Swirlstem, run back to camp and get a backup patrol. Spiralpaw and I will hold them off for as long as we can.”

Swirlstem nodded and shot back the way they had come.

“Prepare yourself for a tough fight, Spiralpaw,” Curlstar muttered, dropping into a crouch even though her eyes were uncertain.

Well, Spiralpaw felt she was even more uncertain than the gray-and-white she-cat. “Uh, Curlstar, I don’t know any battle moves! I’ve just gotten back recently and Cinderlight has mostly focused on my hunting skills.”

“Mouse dung!” Curlstar hissed sharply. “I’m so stupid!” She took in a breath to steady herself. “Well…did you fight on your journey?”

“Yeah,” Spiralpaw answered. “We fought a dog on the way there.”

Surprise flickered in Curlstar’s gaze, but only for a heartbeat. “Okay. Then you can do it, Spiralpaw,” she mewed as the rogues crept closer. “Try your best. I’ll be there. “We can do this.”

Spiralpaw was amazed by her sudden determination. She took deep breath and prepared herself, fixing her eyes on Bubble. She killed Nightstar. Ambercloud. Willowbranch. Broke Pinepaw’s heart. And so many others died at her paws. She’s going to pay for all that.

Curlstar flicked her tail and leaped. Spiralpaw reached for Bubble…

And crashed right into her leader.

She and Curlstar both fell onto the ground with a thump as Bubble stood over them, her eyes full of bitterness and mockery. “Oh, look,” she mewed in Spiralpaw’s least favorite voice in the world. “Our prey is just going to kill itself! Ha! We don’t even need to do any work, it seems like.”

Curlstar slashed her muzzle as fast as a snake. Bubble’s eyes widened with shock. A growl rose from her throat. She leaped at them.

Spiralpaw’s heart pounded in her chest as she and Curlstar scurried out of the way in opposite directions. Bubble landed on dirt and whirled around to face Curlstar. “Fire, come with me!” she yowled. “Black and Spike, handle that little apprentice!”

Wait, what?! Spiralpaw thought frantically. The bigger ones for me?!

She shot out of the way as the rogues leaped for her, Black’s claws barely missing her tail. She turned around and saw the two rogues prowling toward her again and panic and desperation shot through her.

When you’re left without the better options in a fight, do whatever you can to survive, even it’s something silly and embarrassing, Spiralpaw remembered Cinderlight telling her once. But remember to protect your Clan at all times.

Spiralpaw clenched her teeth and scampered up the nearest tree. She clawed her way up to a branch, and when she glanced down, Black and Spike’s eyes were filled with shock and disbelief. I’ve stopped them in their tracks, but it won’t last for long. Her heart quickened. I’ve got to do something, fast.

She suddenly remembered a hunting trick Cinderlight had taught her. She had to climb onto a branch on a tree, then leap down and pounce onto the prey. Maybe I can do the same thing for them. For a fraction of a heartbeat she paused uncertainly.

Go for it! Just go for it! Spiralpaw pushed off her paws and leaped down toward the two rogues.

She’d wasted valuable time when she’d hesitated. Black and Spike had already recovered from their shock and stepped out of the way. Her paws hit the ground. Her prey had escaped.

Don’t think next time, she reminded herself as the rogues closed in on her. Just do it.

Spiralpaw saw a gap between the two rogues for her escape. She shot between them, trying to make her movement as sudden as possible. She continued running, her mind completely blank and out of ideas, driven by panic and fear. She ran right through Curlstar, Fire, and Bubble, the space only enough for her to fit through. Black, chasing her too fast to slow his pace in time, crashed head-first into them.

Ha! Spiralpaw thought, but the moment she glanced behind her again she realized Spike hadn’t crashed and was coming after her again. She bolted away again, her lungs aching already. Aagh! Leave the triumph for later, Spiralpaw!

Spike chased her all around the battle field. Spiralpaw felt his breath on her tail and pushed harder, gasping for breath. But there was no hope. She quickly tired out much faster than the rogue and wheezed to a stop, turning around to face her opponent.

“Finally,” Spike growled. He thrust his muzzle to her face. Spiralpaw flinched back.

“I’ve got you,” Spike hissed, creeping forward while Spiralpaw backed away. “You’ve got nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. You’re mine.” His yellow eyes gleamed with triumph, his white pelt bristling.

Spiralpaw jumped as she bumped into a tree, breathing heavily. No. No. This can’t happen. Please, StarClan, no…

Spike raised his paw for the killing blow. At that moment a blur of gray-and-white barrelled into him, knocking him off his paws and sending him rolling onto his back, away from Spiralpaw.

Curlstar! Spiralpaw breathed out a sigh of relief.

Spike rolled back to his paws easily, but Curlstar’s grip on him was firm. The two cats wrestled on their hind paws for a few moments. Then, suddenly, Spike shot forward and sank his teeth into Curlstar’s throat.

Curlstar let out a shriek that seemed to cover the whole forest and send prey bolting back to their homes. Spiralpaw watched helplessly, staring at them with horror. No.

“Curlstar!” she wailed.

At that moment the backup patrol slid out of the bushes, but that didn’t make things any better. They were all helpless, useless. There was no hope now.

Just as Curlstar was starting to collapse, with what seemed like the last of her energy, shot out her paw and slashed Spike’s eye before he had the chance to close it.

With an earsplitting screech Spike let go of Curlstar and bolted away into the trees. “Retreat!” Bubble yowled.

When the forest was quiet once more Spiralpaw and Swirlstem and her patrol dashed toward Curlstar. “Can we heal her?” Spiralpaw asked desperately. “Maybe there’s more time!”

“I don’t think so,” Swirlstem mewed quietly, her head drooping. “But at least she’s leader now.”

“But it still matters about keeping her alive!” Spiralpaw shot at her in her frustration and shock.

Swirlstem suddenly jerked her head up and glared at her with burning yellow eyes. “I know. Get some moss, Spiralpaw.”

Spiralpaw exhaled and padded off, her muscles still aching from the fight. That was so sudden. She spotted some moss on the trunk of a tree and started ripping it off. On second she’s saving my life…the next she’s getting killed by a stupid rogue…and the third Swirlstem’s angry at me.

She should be, Spiralpaw realized as she walked back to her Clanmates and gave the moss to Swirlstem. I messed everything up. I’m a terrible fighter, a bad apprentice…

Then the next thing she knew she was thrown into blackness from exhaustion.