Crookedstar’s Promise

“You can compete with your littermates,” Ottersplash told him.

“They’re easy to beat.”

“That’s not true!” Volepaw snapped.

Crookedkit watched his former denmates follow their mentors out of camp, then turned to Oakpaw. “Do you have to train, too?” He glanced at Shellheart.

“With leaf-fall coming, we can’t waste time,” Shellheart meowed gently. “You can tell us about your adventures tonight.”

Crookedkit nodded. He’d caused the Clan enough disruption for one day. “Okay,” he mewed. “I’ll see you later.”

“Why don’t you clean out the elders’ nests?” Shellheart suggested as he padded away with Oakpaw.

Tanglewhisker rubbed a grizzled paw over his ragged ear. “They could do with new moss. The old stuff is full of fleas.”

Crookedkit stifled a sigh. He’d learned so much and traveled farther than any apprentice, but he had to stay in camp and clean out nests. Suddenly becoming a warrior seemed a long way off.

Crookedkit woke into a dream. Mist shrouded the earth and trees rose around him with smooth gray trunks that disappeared into darkness above. Mapleshade slid out from behind a trunk, mist swirling around her paws. “So they took you back.”

“Of course.” Crookedkit swished his tail. “I’m a RiverClan cat.”

“I was worried you’d forgotten.”

Crookedkit narrowed his eyes. “I came back,” he growled. “You don’t have to go on about it.”

Mapleshade sat down. “You’ve got guts,” she muttered. “I’ll give you that.”

“What do you want with me?” Crookedkit wondered why she was back in his dreams. He’d come home. What more did she need?

“I want to help you fulfill your destiny.” Mapleshade padded closer. Her tail slid across Crookedkit’s flank.

Crookedkit fidgeted with impatience. “What is my destiny?”

“If you obey me and train hard, one day you will lead your Clan.”

“I’ll be leader?” Crookedkit couldn’t believe his ears. “But I’m not even an apprentice yet!”

Mapleshade sat down. “Were you hoping that Hailstar would be so impressed by your adventure he’d make you an apprentice right away?”

Crookedkit flinched. She was close to the truth. “I can hunt,” he insisted, straightening up. “And I’m big enough.”

“Hailstar can’t reward disobedience,” Mapleshade pointed out. “He’ll make you an apprentice soon.”

“It’s dumb not to train me,” Crookedkit complained. “I could be much more use to my Clan if I was trained.”

Mapleshade’s green eyes flashed in the half-light. “I could train you,” she offered. “But you’d have to keep it a secret.”

Crookedkit leaned forward. “Could you?”

“It’s been a while since I’ve had an apprentice.”

“If you make me your apprentice I’ll work hard, I’ll do anything you tell me.” Crookedkit paced around Mapleshade. “I’ll meet you every night and you can show me how to hunt and fight like a RiverClan warrior!” If he was going to be leader, he’d need to know every move. “Please make me your apprentice—like a proper ’paw!”

Mapleshade’s tail swung slowly from side to side. “The first thing you’re going to have to learn is patience,” she murmured.

Crookedkit sat down and curled his tail over his paws. “I know.” He remembered Fleck’s teasing. “I promise I’ll try. But I’ve had to wait so long!”

“The best prey is the prey longest waited for.” Mapleshade gazed at him thoughtfully.

Please make me your apprentice! Crookedkit swallowed back the plea.

“Will you make me one promise?” Mapleshade’s muzzle was a whisker from his.

Crookedkit nodded vigorously. “Anything!”

“I can do more than make you leader. I can give you everything you’ve ever dreamed of,” she went on. “Power over your Clanmates. Power over all the Clans.”

Crookedkit’s eyes widened. “I promise!”

“Wait.” Mapleshade tipped her head. “You don’t know what you’re promising yet.”

Crookedkit blinked.

“You must promise me,” Mapleshade lowered her voice, “that you will be loyal to your Clan above all other things. What you want for yourself is nothing compared to the needs of your Clan. Nothing, remember?” Her green gaze bore into his. “Do you make that promise?”

Crookedkit’s heart quickened. “Yes!” He unsheathed his claws. “Yes, I do!”

Chapter 10

“No! No!” Mapleshade snapped. “Keep both hind paws on the ground or your enemy will unbalance you with nothing more than a hiss!” She nosed Crookedkit’s hindquarters until his paws were firmly planted. “Try it again.”

Concentrating hard, Crookedkit reared up and slashed again at the stick that Mapleshade had stuck into the slimy soil. With both hind paws steady, he found his blow was fiercer and stronger and the stick tumbled with the third hit.

“Much better.” Mapleshade pushed the fallen stick with a paw. “Now, try the move on me.”

Crookedkit blinked at her. “What if I hurt you?”

Mapleshade snorted. “You can try.” She faced him, her thick pelt like a mane around her neck.