WaterfallClan
Leader: Windystar - light brown tabby molly with amber eyes
Deputy: Rainwind - dark gray tabby molly with blue eyes
Medicine Cats: Lightningfur - yellow tabby molly with blue eyes
Apprentice: Sunpaw
Warriors:
Moonpelt - gray-and-white mottled molly with blue eyes.
Lionblaze - golden-yellow tom with amber eyes
Apprentice: Sparrowpaw
Stumpytail - brown tom with a short tail
Stoneheart - gray tom with bright blue eyes
Apprentice: Windpaw
Flowerheart - ginger tabby molly with green eyes
Apprentice: Lilypaw
Fireheart - ginger tabby tom with green eyes
Apprentice: Graypaw
Fastwind - light gray tabby tom with blue eyes
Apprentice: Icepaw
Frostfoot - white tom with faint light gray paws
Hawkclaw - brown tabby tom with amber eyes
Tigerheart - brown tabby tom with amber eyes
Blacktail - white molly with a black tail and paws
Apprentice: Robinpaw
Sunshine - pale ginger tabby molly with amber eyes
Apprentice: Ravenpaw
Windfur - gray tabby molly with blue eyes
Apprentice: Seagullpaw
Apprentices:
Sunpaw - dark ginger tabby tom with amber eyes
Sparrowpaw - tortoiseshell molly with green eyes
Windpaw - ginger tabby molly with amber eyes
Lilypaw - light gray tabby molly with blue eyes
Graypaw - gray tabby tom with blue eyes
Icepaw - white-and-tabby molly with ice-blue eyes
Robinpaw - brown tabby tom with amber eyes
Ravenpaw - black molly with ice-blue eyes
Seagullpaw - white tom with brown paws
Queens:
Amberfoot - gray tabby molly with yellow eyes, mother of Lionblaze’s kits: Puddlekit, Flowerkit, Bramblekit, and Lionkit
Runningwind - ginger tabby molly with amber eyes, mother of Stoneheart’s kits: Rainkit, Icekit, and Muddykit
Sandstorm - black molly with amber eyes, mother of Fireheart’s kits: Squirrelkit, Leafkit, Rubykit, Beachkit, Oakkit, and Firekit
Elders:
Midnightfur - black molly with blue eyes
Waterfall - pale gray tabby molly with amber eyes
Stoneclaw - gray tom with blue eyes
Sunflower - pale ginger tabby molly with amber eyes
Goldenheart - pale ginger tabby tom with amber eyes
Opalheart - dark gray tabby tom with blue eyes
Barkclaw - brown tabby tom with blue eyes
Kits:
Puddlekit - gray tabby tom with yellow eyes
Flowerkit - gray tabby molly with amber eyes
Bramblekit - golden-yellow tabby tom with yellow eyes
Lionkit - golden-yellow tabby tom with amber eyes
Rainkit - gray tabby molly with ice-blue eyes
Icekit - gray molly with blue eyes
Muddykit - ginger tabby tom with amber eyes
Squirrelkit - ginger tabby molly with green eyes
Leafkit - dark ginger tabby molly with green eyes
Rubykit - ginger tabby molly with amber eyes
Beachkit - black tom with amber eyes
Firekit - ginger tabby molly with amber eyes
Oakkit - tortoiseshell molly with green eyes
PoolClan
Leader: Flowerstar - pale ginger-and-white tabby molly with green eyes
Deputy: Skyflower - ginger tabby molly with amber eyes
Medicine Cats: Dawnflower - pale ginger-and-white tabby molly with green eyes
Apprentice: Leafpaw
Warriors:
Moonbeam - silver tabby molly with amber eyes
Apprentice: Woodpaw
Icyfur - white tom with ice-blue eyes
Apprentice: Ivypaw
Sunblaze - white-and-tabby tom with green eyes
Morningflower - orange-and-white tabby molly with green eyes
Apprentice: Songpaw
Whitefur - white molly with blind blue eyes
Apprentice: Birdpaw
Snowyfur - white molly with blue eyes
Jaywing - gray-blue spotted tabby tom with amber eyes
Songwing - white molly with black spots
Birdwing - gray-blue spotted tabby molly with amber eyes
Reedfur - calico molly with amber eyes
Redtail - black tom with a ginger tail
Orangefur - ginger tabby tom with amber eyes
Robinheart - pale tortoiseshell molly with amber eyes
Foamfur - light gray tabby molly with blue eyes
Stempelt - light gray tabby tom with blue eyes
Apprentices:
Leafpaw - orange-and-white tabby tom with blue eyes
Woodpaw - pale ginger tabby tom with amber eyes
Ivypaw - white-and-tabby molly with amber eyes
Songpaw - orange-and-white tabby molly with amber eyes
Birdpaw - orange tabby tom with blind blue eyes
Queens:
Flowerstem - pale ginger tabby molly with blue eyes, mother of Jaywing’s kits: Treekit, Pinkkit, and Songkit
Sandstream - pale ginger tabby molly with blue eyes, mother of Stempelt’s kits: Stormkit and Redkit
Elders:
Flutterfur - brown tabby molly with amber eyes
Longbranch - deaf brown tabby tom with amber eyes
Kits:
Treekit - pale ginger tabby tom with blue eyes
Pinkkit - ginger tabby molly with a bright pink nose
Songkit - gray-blue spotted tabby molly with amber eyes
Stormkit - light gray tabby tom with blue eyes
Redkit - pale ginger tabby tom with blue eyes
LakeClan
Leader: Waterstar - gray tabby molly with green eyes
Deputy: Fishlake - gray tabby tom with green eyes
Medicine Cats: Flowingwater - white molly with brown eyes
Apprentice: Wavepaw
Warriors:
Goosefall - light gray tabby molly with green eyes
Apprentice: Rainpaw
Stormcloud - black-and-white splotched tom with amber eyes
Apprentice: Petalpaw
Rainwater - dark gray tabby tom with amber eyes
Lakewave - ginger tabby tom with amber eyes
Apprentice: Waterpaw
Raindrop - light gray tabby tom with blue eyes
Rainpool - dark gray-blue molly with amber eyes
Apprentice: Ripplepaw
Ripplepool - fluffy light gray molly with green eyes
Apprentice: Thrashpaw
Thrushwater - white tom with amber eyes
Waterflower - calico molly with amber eyes
Urchinbriar - tortoiseshell molly with amber eyes
Dustywater - brown-and-white mottled tom with amber eyes
Apprentice: Swimpaw
Roaringwave - black tom with amber eyes
Apprentice: Sandpaw
Apprentices:
Wavepaw - brown tabby molly with green eyes
Rainpaw - dark gray tabby molly with amber eyes
Petalpaw - ginger tabby molly with green eyes
Waterpaw - light gray tabby tom with blue eyes
Ripplepaw - white-and-tabby tom with amber eyes
Thrashpaw - black-and-white mottled tom with green eyes
Swimpaw - orange-and-white tabby tom with amber eyes
Sandpaw - pale ginger tabby tom with amber eyes
Queens:
Splashpelt - gray tabby molly with blue eyes, mother of Lakewave’s kits: Poppykit, Yarrowkit, and Brookkit
Laketide - ginger tabby molly with blue eyes, mother of Raindrop’s kits: Firekit, Sandkit, Duskkit, and Birdkit
Elders:
Silverlake - silver tabby molly with amber eyes
Goldenlake - ginger tabby molly with golden eyes
Purplefoot - dark gray tabby molly with white paws, muzzle, and tail-tip
Spikewater - fluffy white-and-tabby tom with yellow eyes
Tidepool - orange-and-white tabby tom with amber eyes
Pinkfoot - brown tabby molly with white paws
Lightningpool - orange-and-white tabby tom with amber eyes
Stormlake - gray tabby tom with blue eyes
Kits:
Poppykit - ginger tabby molly with amber eyes
Yarrowkit - ginger tabby tom with blue eyes
Brookkit - gray tabby molly with blue eyes
Firekit - light gray tabby tom with blue eyes
Sandkit - ginger tabby molly with blue eyes
Duskkit - pale ginger tabby molly with blue eyes
Birdkit - gray tabby tom with blue eyes
OceanClan
Leader: Seastar - brown-and-white tabby molly with green eyes
Deputy: Flowingpelt - dark gray tabby tom with yellow eyes
Medicine Cats: Brightwave - orange-and-white molly with amber eyes
Murkywater - dark brown tabby tom with amber eyes
Warriors:
Wavepelt - gray tabby molly with ice-blue eyes
Apprentice: Splashpaw
Ivysong - gray tabby molly with ice-blue eyes
Apprentice: Oatpaw
Fishfur - black tom with amber eyes
Flounderfur - black tabby tom with blue eyes
Sharkfin - gray-and-white mottled tom with amber eyes
Dolphinpelt - gray-and-white mottled molly with amber eyes
Bubblefur - fluffy white molly with blue eyes
Breezecloud - fluffy white tom with blue eyes
Apprentices:
Splashpaw - fluffy pale ginger tabby molly with blue eyes
Oatpaw - light brown tabby tom with blue eyes
Queens:
Seaflower - white molly with brown eyes, mother of Sharkfin’s kits: Bubblekit, Soaringkit, and Hailkit
Sealion - brown tabby molly with amber eyes, mother of Fishfur’s kits: Streamkit, Mudkit, Lakekit, and Oceankit
Turtleleap - tortoiseshell tabby molly with amber eyes, mother of Breezecloud’s kits: Mothkit and Burrkit
Elders:
Flywater - light gray tabby tom with amber eyes
Fishflight - black-and-whtie mottled molly with green eyes
Gullclaw - black tabby tom with yellow eyes
Kits:
Bubblekit - white tom with brown eyes
Soaringkit - fluffy gray molly with amber eyes
Hailkit - gray-and-white mottled tom with amber eyes
Streamkit - brown tabby molly with amber eyes
Mudkit - dark brown tabby tom with amber eyes
Lakekit - black tabby tom with amber eyes
Oceankit - black molly with amber eyes
RiverClan
Leader: Murkystar - brown tabby tom with amber eyes
Deputy: Waterwind - white molly with green eyes
Medicine Cats: Flowerfur - light gray molly with amber eyes
Hazelfur - brown tabby molly with hazel eyes
Warriors:
Streamfur - gray molly with green eyes
Apprentice: Fallingpaw
Flounderfin - gray tom with green eyes
Apprentice: Beachpaw
Flailfin - gray tom with green eyes
Petalfin - blue-gray molly with a white muzzle
Rocktalon - black-and-white mottled tom with amber eyes
Beachtail - pale ginger tabby molly with green eyes
Apprentice: Sandpaw
Sharktail - pale ginger tabby tom with amber eyes
Apprentices:
Fallingpaw - black-and-white mottled molly with amber eyes
Beachpaw - gray tom with amber eyes
Sandpaw - pale ginger tabby tom with green eyes
Queen:
Pufferfishtail - tortoiseshell molly with green eyes, mother of Sharktail’s kits: Coralkit, Reefkit, and Octopuskit
Kits:
Coralkit - ginger tabby molly with green eyes
Reefkit - black tom with green eyes
Octopuskit - pale ginger tabby tom with amber eyes
StreamClan
Leader: Wavestar - light gray tabby molly with amber eyes
Deputy: Brookclaw - white molly with amber eyes
Medicine Cats: Oakpelt - brown tabby tom with green eyes
Sunpelt - tortoiseshell molly with amber eyes
Warriors:
Brightcherry - calico molly with amber eyes
Silvermoon - silver tabby molly with amber eyes
Apprentice: Scorchpaw
Stormshadow - dark gray tom with amber eyes
Featherfur - white-and-tabby molly with green eyes
Apprentice: Mistpaw
Ambertuft - ginger tabby tom with amber eyes
Wetfoot - white tom with black paws
Apprentice: Fogpaw
Stonetail - white tom with a black tail
Apprentice: Streampaw
Frogfur - gray tabby tom with white spots
Cloudfur - white tom with ice-blue eyes
Apprentice: Ashpaw
Apprentices:
Scorchpaw - ginger tabby tom with green eyes
Mistpaw - white-and-tabby molly with green eyes
Fogpaw - light gray tabby tom with green eyes
Streampaw - calico molly with amber eyes
Ashpaw - ginger tabby tom with green eyes
Queens:
Snowyheart - white molly with black spots, mother of Stormshadow’s kits: Frostykit, Cinderkit, Blizzardkit, Icykit, Podkit Ashkit,
Leafystream - pale ginger tabby molly with amber eyes, mother of Cloudfur’s kits: Lightkit and Conekit
Firetail - orange-and-white tabby molly with green eyes, mother of Ambertuft’s kits: Stonekit, Flamekit, and Cloudkit
Elders:
Sandywater - white-and-tabby tom with hazel eyes
Orangepelt - ginger tabby tom with amber eyes
Yellowblaze - golden-yellow tabby tom with amber eyes
Flamingfur - ginger tabby tom with amber eyes
Birchpelt - white molly with black spots
Russetfox - russet molly with green eyes
Kits:
Frostykit - white tom with green eyes
Cinderkit - black tom with green eyes
Blizzardkit - gray molly with green eyes
Icykit - light gray tom with amber eyes
Podkit - light gray tabby molly with green eyes
Ashkit - dark gray molly with amber eyes
Lightkit - white tom with ice-blue eyes
Conekit - pale ginger tabby molly with amber eyes
Stonekit - orange-and-white tabby tom with green eyes
Flamekit - ginger tabby tom with amber eyes
Cloudkit - white-and-tabby molly with green eyes
Cats Outside of the Clans
Nightkit - black tom with amber eyes, formerly of OceanClan, a loner
Tip - ginger-and-white tabby tom with green eyes, a loner
Ginger - ginger tabby molly with amber eyes, Tip’s sister, a loner
Sasha - brown-and-cream Siamese with sky-blue eyes, a rogue
Cave Rock - gray tabby tom with amber eyes, a rogue
Merlincloud - tortoiseshell molly with amber eyes, formerly of OceanClan
Prologue
“Conepaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Stumpytail. WaterfallClan honors your courage and loyalty.”
Stumpytail stood back in shock. “What?” he cried. “Why is my name Stumpytail?”
“Your tail,” Poppystar mewed. “Aren’t the names supposed to describe a cat?”
“Well,” Stumpytail mewed, his fur hot. “Yes, but, why couldn’t I’ve been named Conetail?”
Poppystar frowned. “Um… No?”
Stumpytail growled, and leapt off the WaterRock. “You’re just as bad as Waterfallstar! I wish Fernheart had survived!”
“Well, at least you saved Poppystar,” Hazel Moon, Stumpytail’s aunt, purred.
“I should’ve saved Fernheart!” He snapped. “How are you not sad? She was your sister!”
Hazel Moon looked at her paws.
Stumpytail stalked off to sit beside the camp’s entrance. “Snowmeadow, you’re off duty,” he growled.
The orange-and-white tabby molly poked her head through the entrance. “Conepaw? You’ve got an attitude. What’s wrong?”
Stumpytail frowned. “You didn’t hear?” He growled.
“No…?”
“You did,” he growled. “Now call me by my new name.”
“Stumpytail,” she mewed, hanging her head. “What was Poppystar thinking? Conetail is a much better name, and it still matches your tail size!”
Stumpytail flinched, but Snowmeadow didn’t notice. “That’s what I said!”
“Stumpytail, no talking,” a stern voice mewed, and Stumpytail turned to see Coloredleaves.
“Sorry,” he murmured.
Snowmeadow passed him, flashing a quick apologetic glance at Stumpytail, before leaving.
“Since Fernheart isn’t here, either me or Flameclaw will get you in the morning,” Coloredleaves explained.
Stumpytail nodded. He turned to the entrance as night fell over him, and sat down. He felt as if he was in exile, out on his own in the camp, with no one around to help him, and because of his name.
Did a branch fall on me? He wondered. Because I feel as if I’ve been crushed by one.
Chapter One
Sparrowpaw padded through the ferns with Stumpytail on her heels.
Why is Stumpytail so grumpy? She wondered, looking back at the senior warrior.
Stumpytail stared longingly at the ferns, and paused a moment to close his eyes and breathe in their sweet scent.
“Move,” Hawkclaw growled.
Stumpytail stared at him, then followed Sparrowpaw through the undergrowth.
He sighed, and Sparrowpaw thought, why is he so weird?
“Sparrowpaw!”
The tortoiseshell looked up to see her best friend, Petalpaw of LakeClan.
The ginger tabby was younger than Sparrowpaw, but she was almost as tall as her.
Sparrowpaw was six moons into her training, and Petalpaw was only two.
Sparrowpaw followed Petalpaw from the undergrowth, and into the Gathering to a spot where many apprentices were sitting, in a fern thicket.
Behind Sparrowpaw, Windpaw, her sister, and Lilypaw, her best friend, joined her, followed closely by Graypaw, her other best friend, and Icepaw.
Ivypaw, Birdpaw, and Woodpaw of PoolClan joined them next, with Splashpaw and Oatpaw of OceanClan on their tails. A few heartbeats later, they were followed by Fallingpaw, Beachpaw, and Sandpaw of RiverClan.
Sparrowpaw stuck out her tongue in disgust. Sandpaw and Beachpaw were the flirty apprentices, and Sparrowpaw wanted to get away, far as possible from them.
Mistpaw, Fogpaw, and Streampaw of StreamClan came last.
“Where are the LakeClan apprentices?” Oatpaw asked.
Splashpaw shrugged.
“They might come late,” Beachpaw suggested.
“Maybe,” Mistpaw mewed.
“Quiet!” Birdpaw hissed, and the apprentices hushed.
“The Gathering has begun!” Came the voice of Flowerstar, the PoolClan leader, from the branches of the Great Willow.
Waterstar stepped forward first. “LakeClan has exciting news,” she mewed, her eyes sparkling. “We have three new warriors! Thrushwater, Rainwater, and Waterflower!”
Cheers came from the gathered cats, and the apprentices all shared a look that said, so that’s where they were!
“We also have seven new apprentices,” Waterstar continued.
Seven? Sparrowpaw thought. That’s a lot!
“Rainpaw, Petalpaw, Waterpaw, Ripplepaw, Thrashpaw, Swimpaw, and Sandpaw. These are Urchinbriar’s and Stormcloud’s kits.”
“Rainpaw! Petalpaw! Waterpaw! Ripplepaw! Thrashpaw! Swimpaw! Sandpaw! Urchinbriar! Stormcloud!” the gathered cats called out.
Sparrowpaw remembered when she was just made an apprentice, at her first Gathering, Waterstar announcing that Urchinbriar had a litter of kits.
So I’ve been an apprentice for six moons. Impressive! Sparrowpaw thought.
“We have a new litter of kits,” Seastar mewed, stepping forward on her branch as Waterstar disappeared in a branch-full of leaves.
A cheer erupted from the Clans, and Sparrowpaw thought, will I still be an apprentice by the time those kits are made apprentices?
“They are born to Turtleleap and Breezecloud, and their names are Mothkit and Burrkit.”
The OceanClan leader stood proud as more cheers erupted from beneath her, and before she stepped back, Sealion broke out of the crowd. “Everyone!” she called. “I have lost a kit,” she rasped. “It is Nightkit. He explored out of camp, and no one can find him! He is a black tom with amber eyes. Please, someone, find him, and return him to me!”
Windystar, the WaterfallClan leader, dipped her head, and replaced Seastar.
“Is she going to talk about how I failed my assessment?” Graypaw squeaked.
“If she does, at least she made your littermates wait,” Sparrowpaw purred, looking back at Lilypaw and Icepaw, his sisters.
They were both scowling at Graypaw, and that made Sparrowpaw purr even more.
“WaterfallClan also has good news,” she explained. “Squirrelkit, Leafkit, Rubykit, Beachkit, Oakkit, and Firekit were just born to Sandstorm and Fireheart.”
Sparrowpaw’s heart swelled as she heard her mother’s and father’s names.
“Wait!” Came a cry from somewhere in the crowd.
Sparrowpaw turned to see Stempelt of PoolClan.
“So, Sandstorm didn’t leave the nursery?” he asked.
“No,” Windystar replied flatly. “We also chased a fox over into RiverClan territory, but the fox was old. Murkystar, all your warriors have to do is just hiss at the fox, and it’ll race right into StreamClan’s territory. This cycle could continue until one Clan chased it into the Twolegplace. Then it’ll be some old Twolegs’ problem!”
Murkystar and Wavestar, the StreamClan leader, dipped their heads.
“We’ll keep an eye out,” Murkystar promised. “Hazelpaw, the medicine cat apprentice, has gotten her full medicine cat name. She will now be known as Hazelfur!”
“Hazelfur! Hazelfur!” the medicine cats cried out, and the rest of the cats joined them.
Sparrowpaw tried to find Hazelfur’s brown tabby pelt over the other cats, but it was easy to find, because the medicine cats were in their spot, under a raspberry bush.
“Hazelfur!” Sparrowpaw yowled, and the other apprentices joined her.
Wavestar stepped forward, her light gray tabby fur turning dark in the shadows of the Great Willow.
“Sunpelt has had a vision!” she called, and everyone went quiet.
“Sunpelt, share,” Wavestar ordered, and the young tortoiseshell molly stood up and padded out of the bush.
The cats near the bush stepped back to form a ragged circle, and Sparrowpaw exchanged a glance with Graypaw. Then the two cats pushed through the sea of cats and got as close to Sunpelt as the other warriors allowed.
Sparrowpaw and Graypaw pushed between Moonbeam and Jaywing, two PoolClan warriors, just in time to see Sunpelt speak.
Her voice was loud and clear as she meowed, “last night, WaterClan came to me in a vision. They told me a prophecy: A sparrow, a gem, a monster, and a coral reef will save the waterfall.”
“A monster?” Goosefall, a LakeClan warrior, cried out. “But those are dangerous for the Clans!”
“A coral reef?” Flounderfur, an OceanClan warrior, muttered. “The only coral reef that I know of is in the ocean!”
“What’s a gem?” Waterpaw, one of the new LakeClan apprentices, asked Lakewave, who must’ve been her mentor.
“Umm… it’s like a crystal?” Lakewave mewed, looking at Urchinbriar, the apprentice’s mother.
“I get the sparrow part and the waterfall part,” Flowerstar mewed. “The waterfall must mean WaterfallClan, and the sparrow must mean the bird, like prey. Maybe there won’t be any prey for WaterfallClan this leafbare, but a sparrow saves them from starving?”
Sparrowpaw shuddered. She didn’t want to go hungry!
“Flowerstar, why don’t you share, to get this Gathering to finish?” Windystar suggested.
“I wasn’t done,” Wavestar hissed. “Anyway, Leafystream and Firetail have both had their kits.”
As Sparrowpaw and Graypaw walked back to the apprenties.
“Let’s wait here,” Graypaw murmured. “Most of the WaterfallClan cats are here, anyway.”
Sparrowpaw nodded, and sat down beside Stumpytail.
“Leafystream’s and Cloudfur’s kits are Lightkit and Conekit,” Wavestar announced.
Stumpytail winced, and Sparrowpaw glared at him. What was his problem?
“And Firetail’s and Ambertuft’s kits are Stonekit, Flamekit, and Cloudkit.”
As the Gathering erupted in cheers, once again, Flowerstar broke the cheers.
“Reedfur, Morningflower, and Songpaw chased a badger out into the Unclaimed Territories,” she mewed quickly. She clearly wanted to end the Gathering, but Sparrowpaw couldn’t figure out why.
Graypaw clearly had discovered the same thing, and he murmured, “maybe she wants to check that the badger hasn’t come back?”
Sparrowpaw nodded, but inwardly, she felt as if it was more than the badger.
“The Gathering is dismissed!” Windystar called, and the leaders led their Clans off the island.
Back at camp, Sparrowpaw was telling Robinpaw, Ravenpaw, and Seagullpaw about the Gathering, since they didn’t attend.
“We should’ve gone to the Gathering!” Robinpaw wailed.
“It would’ve been your second Gathering. You’ve already gone before,” Windpaw pointed out.
Graypaw nodded.
“Anyway, so what was the prophecy?”
As Lilypaw opened her mouth to reply, a call came from one of the warriors.
“Lilypaw!” The cat was Flowerheart, Lilypaw’s mentor. “You should get some sleep.”
Rainwind, the deputy, padded up next. “Blacktail, Robinpaw, Sunshine, Ravenpaw, Windfur, and Seagullpaw are on the dawn patrol. So move, if you want to catch up with your mentors.”
There was a glint of amusement in her eyes, and the three younger apprentices rushed over to the camp entrance, where their mentors were waiting.
“Sparrowpaw, Windpaw, Lilypaw, and Graypaw, go get some rest. Icepaw and Sunpaw are already sleeping.”
Sparrowpaw nodded, and headed into the apprentices’ den.
“Do you think I’ll have my next assessment soon?” Graypaw whispered.
“You were the only one who messed it up!” Lilypaw replied. “Windystar made Icepaw and I wait.”
There was an annoyed grunt, and Sparrowpaw looked down to see Icepaw.
“I’m trying to sleep!” she growled.
“Sorry,” Windpaw muttered.
Sparrowpaw settled down in her nest. It was in the center of the apprentices, and Windpaw settled down beside her.
“Your tortoiseshell pelt really blends in with the gloom of the den,” Windpaw mewed sleepily.
“Is that sarcasm?” Sparrowpaw purred, but Windpaw was already snoring.
Sparrowpaw sighed and went to sleep.
Sparrowpaw was woken up by a shouting in the camp.
She rushed out to see Tigerheart, Blacktail, Robinpaw, Stumpytail, and Frostfoot standing in the camp, all gasping for breath.
“What is it?” Lionblaze, Sparrowpaw’s mentor, called.
“Badger!” Tigerheart replied.
Sparrowpaw froze. A badger? Those were dangerous!
Graypaw and Windpaw hurried out of the den, followed by Icepaw and Lilypaw.
Stoneheart, Windpaw’s mentor, and Fireheart, Graypaw’s mentor, rushed out of the warriors’ den.
Lightningfur, the medicine cat, rushed out of the medicine cats’ den, calling to her apprentice, Sunpaw. The young tom hurried out, and Sparrowpaw exchanged a glance with her brother.
“Is anyone hurt?” he called.
“No,” Blacktail replied, catching her breath. “But we need a bigger patrol.”
Rainwind and Windystar padded out of their dens, and Rainwind nodded to Lionblaze and Fireheart. “Take your apprentices to the badger attack,” she mewed. “May WaterClan light your paths.”
Lionblaze dipped his head, and hurried out of camp with Sparrowpaw hard on his heels.
“Lead on!” Fireheart called, dipping his head to Blacktail.
The senior warrior nodded, and Sparrowpaw pelted after her.
Making sure the white molly’s black tail was touching her nose, Sparrowpaw pushed through the undergrowth. Ferns battered her flanks as they emerged into a clearing. Stumpytail, Tigerheart, and Robinpaw had gotten there already, and they were attacking one badger.
“There’s three of them?” Fireheart exclaimed.
Blacktail nodded, then threw herself at the badger. Frostfoot attacked the second badger, and Fireheart and Graypaw joined him.
“Do we need another warrior?” Sparrowpaw asked, staring at the third badger.
Just as she spoke, a patrol emerged into the clearing. It seemed to be a border patrol, returning to camp.
Hawkclaw, Moonpelt, and Fastwind ran into the fighting cats, jumping on the third badger.
Sparrowpaw joined Graypaw, while Lionblaze joined Hawkclaw’s patrol.
Sparrowpaw kicked at the badger’s flanks, while Graypaw dove underneath the badger, clawing at its belly. Fireheart clawed its eyes, and Frostfoot bit its short tail. The badger whimpered, and lashed out with blunt claws.
Sparrowpaw dodged to the side, and ran her claws along the creature’s muzzle. She and Fireheart slashed the badger’s face blow for blow, step for step.
Graypaw had joined Frostfoot, and they were running their claws along the black-and-white creature’s sides.
The badger lashed out with a front claw, catching Fireheart on the cheek.
Fireheart’s stepped faltered, and he fell back. Sparrowpaw watched her father, then whipped her head around just in time, and slipped under the badger’s open jaws. She thought she was clear, but teeth grabbed her scruff. As she flailed around in the air, a gray tabby pelt flashed at the edge of her vision, and the badger let go. Sparrowpaw felt to the ground, landed on four paws, and watched the badger clumsily stomp into the ferns.
Sparrowpaw tore after it, scratching its hindquarters.
“Get out of our territory!” she hissed.
Graypaw joined her, and together, they chased the badger through the undergrowth. Graypaw stopped at a lightning-struck tree, but Sparrowpaw continued on.
“Sparrowpaw!” Graypaw called. “You’ve crossed the border!”
Sparrowpaw froze, and traced her steps back to where Graypaw was standing.
Pawsteps thundered in the distance, and Sparrowpaw pushed Graypaw behind a clump of ferns, just in time to see the other two badgers racing into OceanClan territory, with Stumpytail, Frostfoot, and Blacktail yowling after them, but stopping on the border.
Sparrowpaw led Graypaw out of the ferns.
“We did it!” Graypaw yowled.
“Shush!” Sparrowpaw purred. “You sound like a kit!”
Graypaw cuffed Sparrowpaw over the ear. “Okay, Sparrowkit!”
“Hey! That’s Sparrowpaw to you, Graykit!” Sparrowpaw purred, and the two friends starting play fighting.
“Sparrowpaw! Graypaw! Stop!” Frostfoot’s warning came too late.
A shadow fell across Sparrowpaw and Graypaw, and the two scrambled onto their paws.
“What are two kits doing out of camp?” A cat hissed, and Sparrowpaw recognized the black-furred tom as Fishfur.
Behind Fishfur, there were two gray tabby mollies, a fluffy pale ginger tabby molly, and a light brown tabby tom.
“Oatpaw, Splashpaw, get behind me,” Ivysong, one of the two gray tabbies, whispered.
Oatpaw and Splashpaw exchanged a glance, before stepping forward.
“What are you two doing on our territory?” Splashpaw growled.
So we’re enemies now, even though yesterday we were friends, Sparrowpaw thought, growling softly.
“We were chasing badgers off our territory,” Graypaw growled. “We didn’t realize that we'd crossed the border.
“It looked like you two were play-fighting,” Wavepelt huffed.
“Plus, you two are still on our territory,” Ivysong added.
Sparrowpaw scurried across the border, still looking at the OceanClan cats. Graypaw followed her, hissing at the OceanClan patrol.
“Aw!” Fishfur purred. “Graykit’s so cute!”
Graypaw growled loudly, and Frostfoot had to hold him back, or else he’d have hurled himself at the OceanClan patrol.
“Let’s get back to camp,” Blacktail murmured, wrapping her tail protectively around Graypaw and Sparrowpaw.
“Actually,” Fishfur mewed, crossing the border. “I was thinking we could take the two kits back to our camp for a bit.”
The WaterfallClan cats all exchanged a glance.
“Alright,” Frostfoot mewed. “Here you go.”
Fishfur’s eyes glittered with surprise, quickly exchanged with inpatients.
“Well?” Ivysong growled. “Give them to us.”
“I’m sorry,” Sparrowpaw mewed sweetly. “But we don’t have any kits to give.”
She stayed just long enough to see Fishfur’s eyes almost explode with hatred.
“You know what we mean!” Wavepelt mewed, rolling her eyes.
“Plus, you all are still on our territory,” Graypaw mewed, quoting Ivysong’s words back at her.
Then, the two apprentices ran. Their paws carried them so fast that it seemed like they were flying. Before Sparrowpaw knew it, she was back in the camp.
Faces poked out of their dens.
“What happened?” Fireheart mewed. “What took you all so long?”
The three other warriors of the patrol flew through the entrance, yowling with delight.
“Why were you separated from us?” Hawkclaw asked.
“Are you all right?” Rainwind added.
“We’re fine.” Blacktail’s eyes were glittering with delight.
“We chased those badgers off our territory, and we tricked an OceanClan patrol!” Graypaw mewed, exchanging a delighted glance with Sparrowpaw.
Sparrowpaw felt as if her happiness was lifting her up. When she looked up, the leaves of the trees hadn’t gotten any closer, and she scowled.
A pelt touched hers, and she looked around to see Sandstorm, her mother, purring, and washing her.
“Sandstorm!” Sparrowpaw mewed, her pelt prickling. “I’m not a kit anymore!”
“Does anyone want to know how we thwarted those pesky OceanClan cats?” Graypaw asked, and the apprentices gathered around him as he told the story.
Sparrowpaw looked around.
“Sparrowpaw!” Sunpaw ran toward her, his dark ginger tabby fur pricked. “Are you okay? You’ve got a nasty wound on your neck!”
Sparrowpaw just now felt a pang on her neck and she winced. “Probably?”
“Come to my den,” Sunpaw mewed, but Sparrowpaw was already on her way.
Her paws felt heavy as Sunpaw quickly made a nest for her in the medicine den.
“Sit,” he ordered, and Sparrowpaw did.
He ran into the smaller cave at the back of the den, and came out a few moments later with some leaves, roots, and one seed.
“What’s that?” Sparrowpaw asked, and winced as another pang ran through her scruff.
“This?” Sunpaw asked, and Sparrowpaw nodded. “That’s a comfrey root, and this is a dock leaf. They’ll both soothe your wounds. The dock is for your scratches, and the comfrey root is for your scruff wound.”
Sparrowpaw nodded. “How do you know all this?” she asked as Sunpaw chewed the comfrey root.
He shrugged, and spat out the root. “It’s like how you memorize all the fighting moves.”
Sunpaw smoothed the root onto Sparrowpaw’s neck in a poultice.
She winced as the juice got into her wound.
“This is a dried oak leaf.” he nodded to a dried, crinkly leaf.
“How will that help me?” Sparrowpaw asked.
“It’ll stop any infections from happening,” Sunpaw replied, and he chewed it into a poultice.
As Sunpaw applied the oak leaf, then made the dock into a poultice and applied it all over her fur, Sparrowpaw felt a stinging on her front paw. She turned to look, and hissed as she realized that she’d torn a claw.
“Mouse dung!”
“What happened?” Sunpaw asked.
Sparrowpaw gestured to her paw.
“Nothing that comfrey can’t fix,” he purred, and grabbed a tiny black root, chewed it, and applied a little bit onto her paw.
“Where will you put the rest of that?” Sparrowpaw asked, glancing at the unused part of the poultice.
“In a sycamore leaf,” Sunpaw mewed, and grabbed a huge leaf from the back of the den, along with a long grass stem. Then, he put the poultice in the leaf, and tied it up with the grass stem.
“You’ll have to sleep here tonight,” Sunpaw mewed, and looked around. “Here, have a poppy seed. It’ll help you go to sleep.” He grabbed the small black seed from the pile of herbs that he’d brought, and put it on his paw.
Sparrowpaw licked it up, and before long, she felt tired, and fell asleep.
Sparrowpaw woke up, and looked around. It took a moment to realize that she was in the medicine den. There was something sticky on her scruff, and when she reached a paw to feel it, she realized that it was cobweb.
Was I bleeding? Sparrowpaw couldn’t remember.
Next to her, Sunpaw was snoring, but Lighningfur’s nest was empty.
She could just make out the medicine cat’s yellow tabby tail-tip in the smaller cave.
She yawned, and Lightningfur padded, tail-first, out of the herb-cave.
“Oh, good!” the medicine cat purred. “You’re awake! I’ll get you some prey.”
As Lightningfur headed out of the den, Sparrowpaw realized how hungry she was.
When Lightningfur returned with a mouse, Sparrowpaw ate it, and looked around the den. Next to the entrance to the herb-cave, there was a wall of brambles. Through the leaves, she could see two nests. She could just make out the gray tabby fur of her dear friend, Graypaw, and the brown tabby fur of Robinpaw in another nest.
Will I be moved over there? she wondered.
A pang erupted in her paw, and she yelped.
Graypaw and Robinpaw shot up in their nests, and Sunpaw jumped out of his.
He hurried over to his sister, and bent over her. “What’s wrong?” he asked, his eyes glittering with worry.
Sparrowpaw looked down at her paw again, and remembered that this was where her claw would've been if it hadn’t been torn out. It looked puffy and red around the edges.
“It’s my claw,” she mewed. “I think it’s infected.”
Sunpaw stared at her paw. “Yep,” he mewed. “Definitely infected. Don’t worry—” he added when he saw Sparrowpaw’s expression. “That’s why we have marigold and horsetail.”
Lightningfur padded out of the herb-cave, and dropped a few petals and leaves at Sunpaw’s paws.
“Can you do it?” she asked her apprentice.
“I treated her yesterday, didn’t I?” Sunpaw purred, but his eyes were worried.
“How bad is it?” Graypaw asked, sniffing Sparrowpaw’s paw.
“Not bad at all,” Lightningfur replied briskly.
Sparrowpaw could tell that there was something that she and Sunpaw were not telling Sparrowpaw, Graypaw, and Robinpaw.
Robinpaw narrowed his eyes. He seemed to have caught on, too.
“All right,” he mewed. “If you say so. C’mon, Graypaw. Let’s go get some prey.”
Graypaw nodded, and narrowed his eyes at Sunpaw before trotting after Robinpaw.
Sunpaw watched the two toms pad out of the den, before turning back to Sparrowpaw. “Let’s get this paw fixed, shall we?”