The Sight

“What about on the land where we first sheltered when we arrived at the lake?” Ashfur answered.

Leopardstar shook her head. “It’s too marshy.”

“The land between the forest and the lake on our territory would be great for a Gathering,” Firestar offered. “It’s grassy, so all cats will be used to the terrain. And it drains well even in the wettest weather. There’s enough space, and no cat will get his paws wet. So long as each Clan brings its own fresh-kill, we could meet there.”

“The moon will still be almost full in two sunrises,”

Leopardstar meowed. “Shall we meet then?” She gazed around the Clans. Heads were nodding and tails flicking with excitement.

“Very well,” Leopardstar concluded. She turned to Firestar. “If it’s all right with you, we will meet at sunhigh.”

Firestar nodded.

Hollypaw shifted her paws, suddenly uneasy. The Gathering would be fun, but it wouldn’t stop the other Clans from blaming ThunderClan’s mixed blood the next time something went wrong.

“Then it’s settled,” Onestar agreed. He leaped down from the tree, followed by Firestar and Leopardstar. Only Blackstar lingered, his eyes burning with anger.

But the Gathering was breaking up, the cats padding away from the clearing, chattering like starlings.

“Can you believe that?” Lionpaw asked.

Hollypaw glanced back at her mother, who was padding toward the trees beside Brambleclaw and Firestar. “Squirrelflight smoothed things over.” But for how long?

“I can’t wait to tell Jaypaw!” Lionpaw mewed. “Do you think he’ll like the idea?”

A knot of unease twisted in Hollypaw’s belly. How could a blind cat join in with the contests? “Perhaps medicine cats won’t take part,” she mewed. “After all, they’re not like warriors. They’re more used to helping one another than competing.”

Cinderpaw came hurtling up beside them as they neared

the fallen tree. “I bet Lionpaw wins the hunting,” she panted.

Lionpaw purred self-consciously. “Well, Hollypaw will win the fighting,” he mewed.

Brook’s quiet voice sounded behind them. “As long as you all try your best, your Clan will be proud of you.”

Hollypaw couldn’t imagine not trying her best. Her pelt tingled. Perhaps this kind of Gathering might resolve something after all. It would be a chance for ThunderClan to prove to the other Clans— especially ShadowClan—that they were all worthy warriors, and that being Clanborn had nothing to do with it.

,

Chapter 25

Sunhigh was approaching—Jaypaw could feel the warmth on his back. He padded into the camp with a wad of dock leaves clasped in his jaws. The sour flavor had sucked all the mois-ture from his mouth. It disguised every other scent, and he had to rely on the memory of his paws to find the path back to the medicine den.

As he crossed the clearing, he could hear the pawsteps of his Clanmates hurrying around him. The whole Clan had been busy since before dawn preparing for the daylight Gathering. They’re only going to spend the day hunting and fighting, Jaypaw thought irritably. Why are they acting like it’s something special? They get to do that anyway.

“Squirrelflight!” Firestar called down from Highledge.

“Yes?” She sounded out of breath.

“Did you find a good route for the squirrel hunt?”

“I sent Brambleclaw out with a patrol,” she replied. “He’s checking it now. The ShadowClan border might be best. The squirrels are still busy there, digging up their nut stores.”

“What about the tree-climbing contest?” Firestar prompted.

“Spiderleg told me that the Sky Oak is in full bud, but he doesn’t think it’ll be damaged by having so many apprentices climbing it at once.”

“Good,” Firestar meowed. “Are there hunting patrols out?

We don’t want our visitors to think we are prey-poor.”

“Two. Birchfall and Thornclaw are leading them.”

“Jaypaw!” Firestar scrambled down from Highledge and caught up to him. “Leafpool will need your help today in case of any accidents. You won’t be able to join in any of the contests, I’m afraid.”

The whole Clan had been tiptoeing around him like mice since the daylight Gathering had been announced, too scared to say out loud what he knew they’d all been thinking—that he would be useless in any apprentice contest. He had noticed right away how they never mentioned his name as they speculated about which apprentices would win. Jaypaw didn’t reply to Firestar and scraped angrily through the bramble entrance to the medicine den.

“Oh, good!” Leafpool was waiting for him. “You found lots. Now we’ll be ready for any scratches.”

Jaypaw dropped the dock leaves on the ground. He flicked his tongue, trying to wet it again. “I don’t see why we have to be responsible for all the other Clans,” he complained. “If their apprentices want to show off on our territory, their own medicine cats should look after them.”

“All the medicine cats will be working together to make sure every cat is cared for properly,” Leafpool reminded him.

“I bet Willowpaw and Kestrelpaw haven’t spent the

morning looking for herbs,” Jaypaw muttered. “Even they will have been practicing their hunting skills for the contests.”

He sensed frustration in Leafpool’s quick movements as she stored the dock with the other herbs, but her mew was calm. “I know how much you want to take part, Jaypaw, but I need you to help me.”

The fury that had been simmering in Jaypaw’s belly suddenly bubbled over. “Don’t lie!” he fumed. “I’m not allowed to take part because there’s no way I can compete against real apprentices! Firestar doesn’t want me embarrassing the Clan.”

“You know that isn’t true!” Leafpool told him, shocked.

“Then why doesn’t he let me try one of the contests?”

“Maybe if you’d had more battle training or hunting experience, he would!” Leafpool’s mew was brittle as she tried to keep her temper. “But you started your medicine training late, and the outbreak of greencough has stopped us from working on your other skills.”

Jaypaw didn’t reply. Hollypaw had been a medicine cat apprentice for only the blink of an eye, and she’d had battle training from Leafpool. He was beginning to wonder if his mentor had decided it was a waste of time to teach him any warrior skills at all.

Leafpool changed the subject. “Squirrelflight must be getting tired. She’s been busy all morning. Will you take her some herbs?”

Jaypaw padded sulkily to the herb store and mixed the leaves Squirrelflight would need, then folded them in a wrap,

which he picked up delicately between his teeth. He nosed his way out of the den and listened for his mother’s voice. He found her beneath Highledge talking to Brambleclaw.

Jaypaw dropped the herbs at Squirrelflight’s paws.

“Leafpool wants you to eat these.”

“That’s kind of her.” Squirrelflight sniffed at the herbs.

“Did you mix these yourself? They smell sweeter than usual.”

“I put in some heather nectar to help with the taste,”

Jaypaw mumbled.