He lunged forward and landed on a leaf, pinning it to the ground.
Icekit’s short whiskers quivered with amusement. “Next time we need leaves, I’m sure Brambleclaw will ask you to help!”
“You’ll make a great warrior,” Berrypaw told him. “And I promise to bring something tasty back for you.”
Hollypaw darted forward. “Can I go with them?” she asked Brambleclaw.
“You’re going to the Gathering tonight,” he meowed. “I want you to save your energy for that.”
“But I’ve been asleep half the morning,” she protested.
“You’re half-starved, like the rest of the Clan,” Brambleclaw told her. “Rest and eat today. You can hunt tomorrow.”
“But Lionpaw’s been hunting!” Hollypaw answered hotly.
“It’s not fair.”
“Life isn’t fair. Stay in camp.” He nodded to Squirrelflight and together they led Berrypaw out into the forest.
Furious, Hollypaw turned and stomped across the clearing. Her Clan was starving and they wouldn’t let her hunt!
For a moment she wondered whether to sneak out of camp and hunt by herself. But if she got caught Firestar probably wouldn’t let her go to the Gathering
Overhead, the great white moon made the hollow glow with silver light.
Hollypaw sniffed the air.
Graystripe and Millie waited in the clearing with Ashfur and Stormfur. Brackenfur sat beside them, tugging with his teeth at the fur between his claws. Squirrelflight washed her ears as Brambleclaw stood next to her and glanced up at Highledge. They would leave for the Gathering as soon as Firestar appeared.
The apprentices were fidgeting beside the thorn barrier.
“Do you think Blackstar will mention the battle?”
Cinderpaw mewed.
Honeypaw paced in front of the camp entrance. “I bet ShadowClan never talks about its defeats.”
“What do you think, Hollypaw?” Lionpaw asked. But Hollypaw hardly heard. Jaypaw was staring at the patrol as it prepared to leave camp. His clear blue gaze gave nothing away, but she knew how disappointed he must be.
She padded over to him. “I’ll tell you about it as soon as I get back,” she promised.
Jaypaw didn’t reply.
She pressed her flank against his. “You’ll go to the next
Gathering, I’m sure,” she comforted him. “Poppypaw and Mousefur will be better by then.”
“I know.” Only the smallest twitch of his tail betrayed his frustration.
“Hollypaw!” Brackenfur’s call made her jump. Firestar had leaped down from Highledge, Sandstorm behind him.
“I’ve got to go,” she mewed.
“Hurry up!” Lionpaw called as she hurried to join the others.
Hollypaw glanced over her shoulder at Jaypaw. He had gotten to his paws and was padding slowly toward the elders’
den.
“Jaypaw will be fine,” Cinderpaw reassured her.
Hollypaw stiffened her shoulders. Jaypaw was taking care of his Clan. Besides, she didn’t want to worry about her brother right now. This was her first Gathering as a warrior apprentice, and her paws tingled with anticipation.
Firestar signaled with a flick of his tail, then dived out through the thorn tunnel. Brambleclaw and the other warriors sped after him. The apprentices bunched together as they raced to be first out of camp. Lionpaw’s pelt brushed against Hollypaw’s. His fur was bristling as they burst from the tunnel.
“Do you think the other Clans know I’m a warrior apprentice now?” Hollypaw panted, ducking through the bracken.
“If they don’t, I’m sure you’ll tell them,” Lionpaw teased.
Hollypaw nudged him with her shoulder and sent him veering against a bramble bush.
“Hey!” he protested. Hollypaw sped ahead and Lionpaw pelted after her.
She raced past Ashfur and Stormfur and swerved to shelter behind Brackenfur. “Help!” she squealed. “Lionpaw’s trying to get me!”
A purr rumbled in Brackenfur’s throat. “Don’t hide behind me!” He lengthened his stride and shot forward, leaving Hollypaw undefended. Lionpaw caught up with her and nudged her, making her stumble.
“Now we’re even!” he called.
“I’ll get you later!” she threatened.
The patrol pounded down the slope toward the lakeshore.
Graystripe pulled ahead, clearly excited to be going to a Gathering with his Clan once more. He glanced, eyes shining, at Millie, as she caught up with him. “Do you still think you made the right decision, coming with me to the Clan?”
“Wherever you are is the right place for me to be,” Millie replied quietly.
Leaves turned to grass and then marsh beneath their paws, and the cats slowed as they skirted the lake. They had to travel slowly over the boggy earth, which gave way under every pawstep.
Before long Hollypaw could see the silhouette of the fallen tree bridging the gap between shore and island. Her paws tingled, and she quickened her step. Firestar and Squirrelflight were already crossing, with Sandstorm and Honeypaw right behind them, while Brambleclaw and Berrypaw waited
their turn next to Leafpool.
“Are you ready?” Brackenfur asked as he caught up to her by the tree-bridge.
“Totally!” she mewed.
“Up you go, then.” Brackenfur waited while Hollypaw scrambled up among the tangled roots. She unsheathed her claws, ready for the slippery bark. Gripping on tightly, she wove her way among the twigs and knotholes, relieved when she had crossed the black, lapping water and could jump down onto the shore.
While the other cats crossed behind her, Hollypaw watched for Firestar’s signal. Moonlight glittered on the lake beyond the trees, and she could smell the scents of the other Clans already on the island. Her heart thumped as hard as rabbits’ paws when Firestar nodded and headed into the undergrowth.
Hollypaw couldn’t wait to talk to her fellow apprentices.
She was one of them now, and she realized how much she had felt like an outsider when she had been a medicine cat apprentice.
“I hope—” she began.
But Lionpaw had halted. He was staring into the clearing.
“Something’s wrong,” he whispered.
“What?” Hollypaw glanced around, suddenly apprehensive.
It seemed different from last time. The other cats were huddled with their Clanmates, not milling around or sharing tongues with different Clans. They looked thinner and
angrier, their eyes gleaming like foxes’.
“What’s wrong with everyone?” Hollypaw mewed.
“It’s been a tough leaf-bare,” Firestar reassured his Clanmates. “Everyone’s weaker and hungrier. They’ll be warier. So be cautious.”
Hollypaw stayed by her brother. She didn’t like the angry glances that flashed from warrior to warrior.
“Don’t worry,” Lionpaw murmured. “Everyone will settle down soon.”
A hiss and a yowl made Hollypaw jerk her head around.
Fur and claws flew as Berrypaw leaped onto Owlpaw. The ShadowClan apprentice wrestled him over and pinned him to the ground, but Berrypaw slid sideways with a quick, clean jerk and unbalanced him.
“Stop it!” Brambleclaw’s fierce mew echoed around the trees. He raced to his apprentice and plucked him away from Owlpaw by his scruff. Berrypaw’s legs still churned in the air, his claws gleaming in the moonlight.
