Chapter 15

Swirlpaw padded wearily into the camp, her paws aching from the long journey to the island and back. But that was great, she thought cheerfully. The Gathering meant I was injured for less than a moon. Ambercloud said I had to stay in the medicine den for a few moons… She felt a pang of grief at the thought of the pale ginger tabby. It hadn’t been long since the former medicine cat had died–been murdered–in the climbing clearing. Swirlpaw shivered. I never want to go back there again! So many accidents had happened there, including my own!

The entrance behind her shivered and Curlpaw padded out, her tail dragging and her head hanging down. The gray-and-white she-cat brightened as she realized Swirlpaw was waiting for her. “Swirlpaw,” she mewed, trotting over and pressing herself against her sister. “I thought you’d gone back to your nest.”

Swirlpaw purred and rubbed her muzzle against Curlpaw’s. “How could I? I’d spend my whole life waiting for you if I had to.”

Curlpaw licked Swirlpaw’s forehead. “Me too,” she murmured sleepily. She flicked her tail toward the apprentices’ den. “Come on,” she yawned. “Let’s get some sleep. Tomorrow’s the first day of training with you back!”

Swirlpaw padded toward her den with her sister by her side. “Curlpaw,” she whispered as they stopped in front of the entrance. “You remember Spiralkit, Crystalkit, Berrypaw, Sandpaw, and Lightningtail found Violetblaze’s body in the climbing clearing this morning?”

Curlpaw shivered. “Of course.” Her voice shook.

“Can you come with me to where she’s buried? I want to say goodbye one last time.” Swirlpaw’s heart ached with grief.

Curlpaw’s tail twitched. “Now?” She stifled a yawn.

Swirlpaw nodded. “Now, under the stars where we can lie down on the soft grass and gaze up at Silverpelt.” She paused, wondering if she should just leave now, when the entrance was clear. No, I need Curlpaw with me, she decided. “Please?” Swirlpaw asked.

Curlpaw hesitated, then nodded. “Okay,” she sighed. “We’d better be quick, though.”

Swirlpaw headed toward the camp entrance. I don’t want to be quick. I want to take as long as I want. Violetblaze was my mentor! I should have been there to help her fight off her attacker! She led Curlpaw out into the forest. But then you could have been killed alongside your mentor, a voice inside her argued.

Swirlpaw pushed herself to go further, even though she would’ve liked to lie down on the soft moss and fall asleep with Curlpaw by her side. She hauled herself over the last small hill, nearly collapsing at the top, crouching down to catch her breath. Curlpaw staggered up after her, tripping over a large stick. Swirlpaw leaned forward and caught her just as she was about to fall. They sat together for a few moments in silence, panting.

“Thanks,” Curlpaw gasped.

Swirlpaw pushed herself to her paws and stumbled over to the space between two small trees where Violetblaze’s body was buried. She crouched down and pressed her forehead into the soft dirt.

She pressed back a wail of grief and squeezed her eyes shut. I should’ve been there! she wanted to wail out loud. I should have been there to help her, but I was with Curlpaw! I’ve been such a terrible apprentice!

Curlpaw tottered up to her. “Can we go home now?” she mumbled. “I can barely stay awake!” She curled up beside Swirlpaw and pressed her face into Swirlpaw’s flank.

Swirlpaw waited until her sister’s breathing slowed and then glanced up at the stars. Oh, StarClan, she called up to them. Why did you have to take so much away from me? First Rabbitpelt, then Birdflight, and now Violetblaze. What does this all mean?

Her mind still swirling, Swirlpaw sank down beside her sister and fell into an uneasy sleep.

 

“Swirlpaw!”

Curlpaw’s urgent whisper pulled Swirlpaw out of her sleep. She scrambled to her paws, her heart beating fast, then relaxed as she remembered the exhausting walk into the forest to say a last goodbye to her mentor. She turned to Curlpaw, who was standing beside her, her gray-and-white fur fluffed out until she looked twice her size. “What is it?” Swirlpaw asked. “Surely there’s no danger? Or is it something else?”

Curlpaw’s ears twitched and her eyes narrowed as if she were listening for something. Then she shrugged and shook out her fur. “Nothing,” she muttered. “Just heard a rustle…” She looked around warily as if she expected a fox to leap out of nowhere and claw her throat out.

Swirlpaw shivered. “Come on,” she mewed. “Let’s get out of here anyway. There’s too much danger around recently to stay in the forest alone for too long. We’re lucky nothing attacked us while we were sleeping!”

Curlpaw nodded and raced down the hill. Swirlpaw purred and followed her sister. At least she seemed to have more energy to run around.

As they burst through the camp entrance, Swirlpaw heard a desperate cry of pain. A shape burst out of the nursery, and in less than a heartbeat she was standing nose-to-nose with Cinderlight. “Swirlpaw, go get Leafstem!” the pale brown she-cat yowled. “Reddawn’s kits are coming early!”