Chapter 12

Skypaw snuggled up close to Shadowleap as night fell in the SkyClan camp. The young warrior had been taking care of her the whole day, keeping her belly full of fresh-kill and taking her on walks in the forest when she needed fresh air. I hope Cloudkit–I mean Cloudpaw–is having fun with Treespring, she thought. They really seem like a good pair.

When Shadowleap had taken her on her second walk, Skypaw had asked her about the strange cat. “Where was the last time you heard or scented it? Is it still near here? Do you think it’s dangerous?”

All Shadowleap had replied was, “Calm down, Skypaw, you’ve got moons of apprenticeship left! We don’t need to hurry!” and that had filled her with disappointment.

Now as Skypaw lay in her new den, she couldn’t stop thinking about the strange cat–the two strange cats–she had seen on that night. Who had been the gray-and-white tabby, and who had been the cat that the whole SkyClan was panicking about?

But the more she thought about it, the more it scared her. I never want to go into the forest again. At least, not at night, not if no one’s coming with me. She pressed closer to Shadowleap. And as long as Shadowleap’s with me, I’ll be fine!

She suddenly remembered with a pang of grief how brave Nimblepaw had been. The golden she-cat had rescued her and Cloudpaw when they had been kits, and she must have faced her attacker with bravery. I miss her, Skypaw realized. I miss her great ideas to keep Cloudpaw excited, her kindness when she came into the nursery for us at night when we couldn’t sleep…

Still thinking of Nimblepaw, Skypaw fell into darkness.

 

“Skypaw! Skypaw!”

Skypaw blinked open her eyes as a voice called out to her. She sat up, blinking in the darkness of the den, but she couldn’t see the cat who had called to her. Cloudpaw was sleeping soundly with his mentor, and Shadowleap was also fast asleep beside her. So who had called?

Skypaw crawled out of her nest and padded out into the open. The stars shone brightly up above, so bright that Skypaw dipped her head and focused on things closer to the ground. They’re really bright tonight, she observed.

As she looked around, confused, she heard the voice again, faint but clear. “Skypaw!”

She spun around and raced for the camp entrance. Somehow she knew, in her heart, that the voice was coming from ouside. Skypaw burst out into the forest and let out a gasp.

A few fox-lengths ahead, was the gray-and-white tabby cat again, her yellow eyes sparkling with fear. “Help! Help!” she screeched desperately. “Help me!”

The path in front of her lit up, maybe because of the moonlight, but Skypaw knew there was more to it. The plant beside her also glowed, more brightly than the path. Skypaw walked over to the plant and examined it. It was a flower, its leaves large and long. What is this? Skypaw wondered, but she pulled it out anyway. I know it’s important.

Her heart leaped as the root came out with it, but then she relaxed as she realized it might also be what she was supposed to do: pull out the root.

The plant held tightly in her jaws, Skypaw ran along the path.

 

Skypaw halted in front of the ThunderClan camp, panting. She had no idea why the path had led her here, but she was sure it meant she was supposed to do something. She took a deep breath and burst through the entrance and flinched in surprise as she saw the cat guarding the entrance: a large pale ginger tom with blue eyes.

He jumped in surprise as he saw her. “What the–what are you–who are you–”

Skypaw didn’t let him finish his sentence. She bolted for the medicine den. She felt it calling to her, and curiosity gave her strength and energy as she burst through the bramble screen.

The den was dark. Skypaw padded over to the nests and realized there was a gray tabby lying in one, while the other held a gray-and-white tabby she-cat, her breath rasping as she slept…

No! This was the cat from her dream. In the moment of shock and realization, a new cat appeared in the den behind her. “What in the stars…?” the gray-and-white she-cat breathed.

Skypaw spun around and jabbed the newcomer in the ribs. The cat let out a yelp of surprise and stumbled back. An apprentice! Skypaw padded over to her and hissed, “Who are you? Where is your medicine cat?”

The gray-and-white cat’s yellow eyes widened. “O-our medicine cat is dead,” she stammered uncertainly. “Leafstem, ShadowClan’s medicine cat, is staying with us for a bit until Swirlpaw is healed.” She glanced anxiously at the gray-and-white tabby.

Skypaw whirled around and dashed for the gray tabby’s nest. She slapped her paw on Leafstem’s muzzle and growled, “Wake up, you lazy lump!”

The gray tabby jerked and opened her eyes. “Wha–”

“I’ve brought you a herb!” Skypaw yowled. “Can you see–”

She was cut off by a loud snort of laughter. Skypaw turned to see the apprentice from earlier making her way to her, her body shaking as she stifled a laugh. “Wait for me!” she meowed. “I want to torture her, too!”

Skypaw glanced back at Leafstem. The medicine cat had gotten to her paws and was staring at Skypaw in shock. “Who are–”

She was cut off by a desperate wail of pain. Skypaw turned to the gray-and-white tabby’s nest and stared in horror as she writhed around in her nest, seeming to be in the worst pain ever, her head hanging over the edge of her nest. She seems to be on her way to StarClan already! Skypaw thought in horror.

Leafstem was staring at the plant in Skypaw’s mouth. “Comfrey!” she cried, and snatched it out of her grip and held it in front of the gray-and-white tabby’s nose. “Eat,” she whispered gently. “Swirlpaw. Eat.”

Swirlpaw suddenly stopped moving and swallowed the herb. She blinked open her yellow eyes, gasped, and stared at Skypaw in shock. “You’re the kit from my dream!” she whispered hoarsely.

Skypaw blinked at her. “You’re the cat from my dream,” she replied. “And by the way, I’m not a kit anymore, I’m an apprentice. My name’s Skypaw.”

“I’m Curlpaw!” the gray-and-white apprentice piped up. “Swirlpaw’s sister.”

“That’s kind of obvious,” Skypaw snorted. Their pelts are so similar!

“Are you feeling better?” Leafstem asked Swirlpaw anxiously.

Swirlpaw licked her lips. “Much better,” she meowed, smiling. “And I’m feeling hungry.”

Curlpaw immediately dashed off, and Skypaw cracked a smile. Whatever the crazy things that had happened had been, she knew this problem was solved, and she had made some new friends. Swirlpaw seemed to have recovered, and she could go home to Cloudpaw now.

As she said her farewells to her new friends, Skypaw felt a rush of hope. This might actually work out. With the strange cat and everything. As long as I have close friends, everything will be fine.