Crookedstar’s Promise

The kits scrambled off Crookedjaw and charged for the fresh-kill pile.

“I want carp!” Leopardkit pattered on the ground as she raced to keep up.

Crookedjaw sat up, sighing. “Thank StarClan.”

Willowbreeze, Cedarpelt, and Timberfur were stacking their catch beside the reed bed. Piketooth dropped his trout and turned in surprise as the kits surged past him, knocking the pile of fish flying.

“Careful!” Cedarpelt yelped, grabbing for a trout as it skidded toward the river. “We just got them out. Don’t put them back!”

Willowbreeze crossed the clearing, eyes shining as she neared Crookedjaw. “It looks like I got back just in time,” she purred. “You were about to be devoured by a school of starving kits.” She touched her muzzle to his affectionately.

Crookedjaw ducked away.

“What?” Willowbreeze’s eyes flashed with hurt.

“Not here.”

He could feel Shimmerpelt’s and Lakeshine’s eyes on them—storing up gossip. He’d grown closer and closer to Willowbreeze since he’d rescued her from the Twolegs, but he hated the way the Clan watched them. He knew they were waiting for them to announce they were mates. He could picture Hailstar yowling the news from the Great Rock next Gathering. He snorted crossly. Why couldn’t his Clanmates mind their own business?

“Okay.” Willowbreeze briskly smoothed his fur with her tail and sniffed.

Crookedjaw shrugged apologetically. “Let’s go for a walk,” he suggested. Now that Cedarpelt and Piketooth were back, there was no need to watch the kits.

Willowbreeze flicked her tail past his nose and turned and headed for the entrance. They padded in silence along the grassy path.

“I don’t see why you have to be so embarrassed,” Willowbreeze meowed.

Crookedjaw stared at his paws. “I don’t want my Clanmates to think I’m soft.”

“It’s not soft to have feelings for another cat!” Willowbreeze challenged. “Do you think Hailstar’s soft? Or Cedarpelt? Or Timberfur? They all have mates!”

“I’m sorry,” Crookedjaw murmured. He ducked under a hawthorn bush and padded into the alder grove. It was bright under the trees now that leaf-bare had begun to strip the leaves.

“Do you remember your assessment?” Crookedjaw changed the subject.

“Of course.” Willowbreeze nosed her way after him. “You watched me catch the blackbird.” Her mew softened.

“I could have watched you all day,” Crookedjaw mewed.

“And now you can’t?”

He looked at her, blinking. “Oh, I still could. But I’d get nothing useful done.” He flicked her muzzle playfully with the tip of his tail. “That would get us both into trouble!” Crookedjaw darted forward and scrambled up an alder trunk. Digging in his claws, he hauled himself onto the lowest branch. “Come on!”

Willowbreeze narrowed her eyes. She climbed the alder beside his, scooted along a low branch, and leaped into the next tree. The bough swayed under her weight. Crookedjaw purred. If she could climb like a squirrel, so could he! He flung himself into the branches of the next alder, clinging tight with his claws as it shivered beneath him. Willowbreeze lifted her chin and raced onward, leaping from branch to branch alongside him, light as a blackbird. Crookedjaw matched her tree for tree until they’d crossed the whole grove without touching the ground.

“Can you do this?” Crookedjaw jumped onto a higher branch, then higher, till he was at the spindly top of the tree.

Willowbreeze gasped. “Watch out!”

The branches slumped under his weight. Bark splintered and wood cracked. Squawking with surprise, Crookedjaw slithered through the tree like a stone dropping through water. Heart lurching, he stretched out his claws and grabbed hold of a branch. He hung for a moment, his hind paws churning the air before finding a hold on the trunk. Catching his breath, he lowered himself carefully and dropped to the ground.

“You frog-brain!” Willowbreeze jumped down and glared at him. “I thought you were going to hurt yourself!”

“Impossible.” Crookedjaw whisked his tail.

“How can you be so sure?” Her eyes glittered with worry.

She really cares!

“I’m sorry I scared you,” he meowed softly. “But you don’t have to worry about me.”

“I worry every moment you’re out of my sight,” Willowbreeze confessed.

Crookedjaw touched his nose to her cheek. She was trembling. “Please don’t,” he begged. “I’ll be fine.”

“Stop saying that!” She circled him, bristling. “You don’t know that for sure!”

Crookedjaw blocked her path. He wondered for a moment whether to tell her about Mapleshade and his destiny. No. She’ll think I’m crazy. Why tell her when he could just show her by becoming the greatest leader any Clan had ever known?

“You’re right.” He pressed against her flank. “I don’t know for sure. But I’m so happy just being with you, it feels like nothing can hurt me.”

“Really?”

“Really,” he promised. “Everything will be fine. I love you.” She softened against him. “We’ll have a great life together,” he murmured. “Surrounded by our Clanmates.” He pulled away and looked deep into her eyes. “And our kits.”