Dark River

Mistyfoot bristled. “We’re not eating rabbit, if that’s what you’re worried about!” The RiverClan deputy curled her lip as though rabbit was the last thing she’d dream of swallowing.

“What about Gatherings?” Firestar gazed calmly at Leopardstar.

“We hope to be back in our camp by the next full moon,”

Leopardstar meowed.

“And what if you’re not?” Blackstar demanded. “It’s not fair if you outnumber every other Clan at the Gatherings.”

Thornclaw stood up. “No cat ever lived at Fourtrees,” he pointed out. “It was special to all the Clans, like Mother-mouth.”

Leopardstar met his gaze. “We would not be doing this if we had another option.”

“What if you can never return to your camp?” Onestar’s claws scratched the bark underneath him. “Where will you go then?”

“Will you move to new territory?”

“Will you invade another Clan’s land?”

Anxious mews sounded from the clearing.

Leopardstar’s gaze swept the cats. “You are worrying about something that will never happen!”

Blackstar’s tail was twitching. “But what if it does?” he hissed.

“Three territories can’t support four Clans!” Onestar meowed.

Smokefoot, a ShadowClan warrior, lifted his chin. “One Clan will have to go!”

Silence gripped the clearing. Nervous glances flashed from one cat to another.

Hollypaw’s belly tightened. Could one Clan really be driven from the lake? No! There had to be four Clans! That was the way it was meant to be.

“We have to believe Leopardstar,” Firestar’s mew rang over the clearing. “We must give RiverClan a chance to return to their territory.”

“At least until the next Gathering,” Sandstorm put in. The Clans muttered, but no cat argued.

Firestar nodded. “If RiverClan is still living on the island next full moon, we can decide what to do.” He stared at the other leaders. “Does that seem fair?”

Blackstar nodded curtly.

Onestar flicked his tail. “I guess,” he muttered.

“Then it’s settled.” Firestar gazed out over the Clans.

“ThunderClan has little to report. One of our apprentices was wounded, but she is recovering well.” He glanced at Onestar. “And newleaf has brought plenty of prey to the forest.”

Hollypaw dug her claws into the earth. He’s hinting about the squirrels.

Onestar narrowed his eyes. “WindClan is healthy. And prey is running well on our lands too.”

Hollypaw felt Berrypaw’s breath ruffle her ear. “He said prey, not rabbits,” he whispered fiercely.

“Why doesn’t Firestar mention the squirrels?” Spiderleg hissed.

“Is he too scared to speak?”

Hollypaw jerked around to see which ThunderClan warrior had muttered the question. Thornclaw was glaring at Firestar.

But he’s right not to stir up more trouble! There’s enough tension here already.

“Blackstar?” Onestar was prompting the ShadowClan leader. “Anything to report?”

“A few Twolegs by the lake,” Blackstar revealed. “But none near our camp.”

“Good.” Firestar nodded. “If there’s no other news, I think we should leave RiverClan in peace.”

Whispers rustled through the uneasy crowd, but Firestar jumped down from the Great Oak. Leopardstar followed him. The Gathering was over.

Hollypaw felt a wave of relief as she watched WindClan and ShadowClan disappearing into the undergrowth. She hurried back to Willowpaw. “What’s really going on?” she demanded. “Why did you leave your camp?”

Willowpaw’s mouth was full of herbs. “I can’t talk now,”

she mumbled. “Not with every cat listening.”

“I understand.” Hollypaw could see the desperate plea in her friend’s eyes. “I’ll come back later. You can tell me then.”

Willowpaw spat the herb pulp onto the ground. “Please don’t get into trouble!”

“I won’t,” Hollypaw promised. She had to hear the whole story. Firestar might be able to help RiverClan. The future of the Clans could depend on what she could find out. She spotted Brackenfur disappearing into the undergrowth with Brambleclaw and Squirrelflight. Lionpaw was beckoning to her with his tail.

“I’ve got to go.” Hollypaw touched her muzzle to Willowpaw’s cheek before darting away.

“Did she say anything?” Lionpaw asked as she reached him.

“No, not really.” Hollypaw began to hurry through the ferns. Her heart ached for her unhappy friend.

They caught up with their Clanmates at the tree-bridge.

WindClan and ShadowClan were already padding away on the far shore.

“What does this mean for ThunderClan?” Mousepaw was asking anxiously as he scrabbled onto the trunk.

Squirrelflight jumped up behind him. “Nothing.”

“How can you be sure?” Spiderleg stopped in the middle of the bridge.

Dustpelt narrowed his eyes. “If RiverClan can’t stay in their own territory, they might try to invade WindClan or ShadowClan. If that happens, none of the borders will be safe.”

“But we’re over on the other side of the lake!” Mousepaw mewed. “It won’t affect us.” He followed Dustpelt through the branches and hurried in his paw steps along the trunk.

“I just hope you’re right,” Dustpelt muttered darkly.

“I suppose this explains why WindClan has started training their apprentices to hunt in woodland,” Spiderleg growled.

Hollypaw shivered. Could he be right? Was WindClan planning to invade ThunderClan territory?

“Lionpaw!” Ashfur’s urgent call woke Hollypaw. She looked up from her nest. Lionpaw was already halfway out of the den.

“Is something wrong?” she asked. Most of the nests were already empty; only Honeypaw slept on.

“Battle training!” Lionpaw replied over his shoulder.

Hollypaw got to her paws and stretched. Brackenfur hadn’t called for her. Perhaps she’d get a chance to visit Cinderpaw before training.

Outside she could hear paw steps hurrying and excited mews. Everyone seemed very busy this morning. Intrigued, Hollypaw padded from the den. The sun was only just beginning to creep into the hollow, but the clearing was buzzing like a nest of bees. The fresh-kill pile was well stocked. Mousepaw and Berrypaw were practicing battle moves by the halfrock.

Graystripe and Millie were dragging brambles toward the half-finished den. Firestar was talking with Thornclaw and Brambleclaw below the Highledge.

Outside the elders’ den, Mousefur was stretching in the sun. Longtail sat beside her, his face lifted to the sky. “Hollypaw? Is that you I smell?” the blind warrior called across the clearing.

“Yes.” Hollypaw went over to him.

“I hear trouble’s coming.” Longtail dug his claws into the ground. “I wish I could help defend my Clan.”

“There’s no trouble,” Hollypaw answered quickly.

“RiverClan just has a few problems, that’s all.”

“Sounds like there’s going to be a new marking-out of territory,” Longtail went on. “I’d like to see any Clan try to take a piece of what belongs to us!”

He’s enjoying this! Alarm bristled along Hollypaw’s spine. She was relieved to see Brackenfur padding toward her. Surely he would be too sensible to be caught up in all this talk of battle?

“We’re going hunting,” he announced.

Good! Something normal.