Crookedstar’s Promise

The reed bed was in view, pale under the moon, the Twoleg pelt-dens far behind. Willowbreeze scrambled to a halt and turned. “What’s wrong?”

Crookedjaw whipped his head around, tasting the air.

“Pssst!”

A cat was signaling from the riverbank. Straining to see in the light of the half-moon, Crookedjaw spotted an orange-and-white pelt.

“Go on without me!” he called to Willowbreeze. “I want to check something out.”

Graypool had doubled back and was pacing around her sister. “What’s the holdup?”

“Crookedjaw’s seen something.” Willowbreeze gazed at him curiously.

“Nothing important,” he assured them. “Get back to camp. Fallowtail will be waiting.”

Graypool frowned. “Are you sure you don’t need help?”

Crookedjaw flicked his tail impatiently. “Just get Willowbreeze safely back. She’s gone through a lot in one day.”

Graypool nodded and steered her sister down the path.

“What do you want, Mapleshade?” Crookedjaw padded angrily toward the clump of sedge she was hiding behind. “Haven’t you caused enough trouble?”

The she-cat flew at him, spitting. Shocked, Crookedjaw rolled on to his back and heaved her off with a sharp kick of his hind legs. Scrambling to his paws he faced her, bristling.

Her eyes blazed. “You mouse-brain,” she snarled.

“What?” He couldn’t believe his ears. “You betray us to the Twolegs and then you’re angry?”

“I was testing you, idiot!” A sneer curled her lip. “I knew you were weak. I knew you wouldn’t keep your promise! When your mate was stolen, you should have left her!”

“She’s not my mate!”

“She will be.” Mapleshade stalked around him. “I can see it in the way you look at her.”

Crookedjaw growled. “So what?”

“So what?” Mapleshade echoed with a sneer. “If she can’t keep herself safe then she’s of no use to you! Your loyalty should be to your Clan, not her! Your Clanmates are lying injured in camp yet you sneak off and risk your life to save a warrior who can’t even outrun a Twoleg! She should be ashamed that she caused so much trouble. You should be ashamed that you deserted your Clan on a fish-brained mission! Did Hailstar say you could go?” She didn’t wait for an answer. “No! He told you to wait. Your disloyalty makes me sick. Cats who betray their Clan should be banished. They should live as rogues and loners because that’s all they are!” Hissing, she reared and slashed at Crookedjaw’s muzzle with both paws.

He knocked her away, suddenly aware that he was bigger than her and stronger. “Who are you?” He swiped at her, his paw catching her cheek and sending her tumbling to the ground. He was on her in an instant, digging his claws into her shoulders and pinning her down. “No StarClan warrior would turn on its Clanmate. You mentored me and now you attack me?”

Mapleshade went limp in his grip. Crookedjaw recoiled, suddenly afraid he had hurt her. The she-cat struggled to her paws, shrinking into a huddled crouch. She looked elderly and frail. Guilt seared Crookedjaw. Her blood was wet on his claws. Beating an old cat like that was no measure of strength.

Groaning with the effort, Mapleshade lifted her muzzle. “I saw greatness in you the moment you were born,” she croaked. “You don’t remember the storm, but I saw it. I saw how the skies heaved and roared at your birth.” She dropped on to her belly, panting. “You have a wonderful destiny, Crookedjaw. You’re not just going to be the greatest leader of your Clan, you’re going to be the greatest leader of any Clan.” She stopped to catch her breath. “But you have to keep your promise to me.”

He crouched beside her, pity sweeping over him. “Of course I will.”

“You’ll have to make sacrifices,” she warned. “Your life is not your own; it belongs to your Clan. Don’t be distracted from all the wonderful things you can achieve.”

The greatest leader of any Clan? Excitement flashed though Crookedjaw as Mapleshade went on. “And you will achieve so much! As long as you have me to guide you.” She seemed to be gaining strength with each word. “I have chosen to help you. No one else. Just you. Never forget that the Clan is greater than its cats. Even if you sacrifice every cat who ever loved you, it will be no more than shedding raindrops from your fur because, even if they go, the Clan will still be there and relying on you. Do you agree?”

She lifted her gaze to meet his. It sparked with hope.

Sacrifice every cat who loved me? Crookedjaw frowned. Why would I have to? “But why—” He started to argue, but shadow was swallowing Mapleshade as a cloud swept across the moon. Fat raindrops splashed on Crookedjaw’s pelt. Wind tugged the branches above his head.

“Don’t go yet!” he begged. “Tell me more!” With a jab of disappointment, he found himself staring at bare earth. She had gone. He straightened up and stared across the marsh. The reeds beside the camp were rattling as the rain hardened.

I’m going to be the greatest leader any Clan has ever known!