Crookedstar’s Promise

“StarClan?” Thistleclaw blinked. “You mouse-brain! This isn’t StarClan! Those smug, toothless fools won’t teach you anything as useful as this.”

“This isn’t StarClan?” Crookedjaw’s mind whirled. “Then… where am I?”

Silverhawk pushed past Thistleclaw. “This is the Dark Forest,” he snarled. “This is where you go if StarClan won’t take you.”

Crookedjaw whipped around. Trees loomed over him on every side, mist swirled, and the shadows moved as though they were alive. Voices sounded from the darkness, cries and whispers that he didn’t understand. Breathing fast, the blood roaring in his ears, he turned back and stared at the three warriors. Their eyes were fixed on him, glittering with menace. Crookedjaw stiffened, rage giving him courage. “You lied to me!” he spat at Mapleshade.

“I never told you this was StarClan,” she meowed smoothly. She took a step toward him. “Why are you so angry? You’re the deputy of RiverClan. You have everything you want. And you got it because I trained you and encouraged you. I did more for you than your own mother.”

“Shut up!” Crookedjaw unsheathed his claws.

Mapleshade circled him, pelt smooth, tail swishing behind her. “Your mother never sent an omen telling your Clan to make you deputy, did she?”

“So it was you!”

“Of course it was me!” Mapleshade’s mew sharpened. “Do you think Hailstar would make you deputy without an omen? You’ve never even won a fight!”

Thistleclaw hissed. “He’s deputy already?” He glared at Silverhawk. “Are you going to do the same for me?”

Silverhawk clouted his apprentice with a lightning-swift forepaw, sending him staggering back. As Thistleclaw struggled to keep his balance, Silverhawk thrust his muzzle in his face. “You still have much to learn!” he spat. “Your time will come when I say so, apprentice!”

Crookedjaw shook his head. “I don’t want to learn how to kill,” he whispered.

Mapleshade’s gaze blazed on his fur. “But you promised to do as I say,” she reminded him softly. “You promised to sacrifice everything to be the greatest warrior in RiverClan.”

“I know, and I will always put my Clan first.” Crookedstar knew he had to get away from here. “Thank you for making me deputy.” His pelt brushed a slippery tree trunk as he backed out of the clearing. “But I think I’m okay now. I don’t need any more training.”

Mapleshade’s eyes darkened to empty hollows. “What do mean, you don’t need more training? You can’t break free, Crookedjaw. It’s too late for that. You’ve made me a promise and I’ll make sure you keep it.”

Chapter 33

The hollow around Fourtrees brimmed with moonlight. It silvered the Clans and bathed the Great Rock. Crookedjaw shifted his paws as he stood between the other deputies, his shadow huge on the stone behind him.

“Why did Hailstar make you deputy?” Adderfang hissed in his ear. “You’re not even ready to fight for your Clan.”

Crookedjaw swallowed back fury. He didn’t want his first Gathering as deputy to begin with a fight. Stonetooth, ShadowClan’s deputy, glanced at him from the corner of his eye. Reedfeather turned his back. Clearly the WindClan deputy still had not forgiven RiverClan for the theft of his daughters.

Crookedjaw scanned the crowd, looking for Oakheart. Where was he? He’d seemed so eager to come. Didn’t he want to see his brother named deputy in front of the other Clans? Disappointment sat in his belly like a stone. Willowbreeze had stayed in camp, unable to make the journey to Fourtrees because of a deep cut on one of her pads. She’d slipped off a rock while fishing for an oversized trout. The wound was healing well, thanks to Brambleberry, but she wouldn’t have been able to walk all the way to the Gathering. Shellheart hadn’t come, either. He was confined to the elders’ den, sick with a swelling in his belly. He’d begged Brambleberry to give him strengthening herbs so he could attend, but she had insisted he rest. Crookedjaw glanced up at Silverpelt. Perhaps Rainflower was watching.

Hailstar raised his voice above the swishing of the great oaks as he addressed the Gathering. “Shellheart retired to the elders’ den this moon.” The Clans murmured as the RiverClan leader paused. Crookedjaw lifted his chin, his heart racing. “Crookedjaw is RiverClan’s new deputy.”

“Crookedjaw! Crookedjaw!”

As his Clanmates called his name, Crookedjaw pricked his ears, praying the other Clans would join in. Relief washed over him as he heard ShadowClan join the cheer, WindClan and ThunderClan following.

“Crookedjaw!”

Joy fizzed beneath his pelt. They were cheering for him!

A pair of amber eyes flashed in the crowd. Thistleclaw was staring silently at him. Crookedjaw stiffened. He hadn’t been back to the Dark Forest since he’d realized it wasn’t StarClan’s hunting grounds, waking cold with horror every time he drifted close to a dream. How could he have been so dumb? He’d never go there again. He’d never talk to Mapleshade.