Crookedstar’s Promise

“How do you know?” Crookedjaw narrowed his eyes. “Have you had another omen?” Why did he bother asking? Even if she had, he wouldn’t tell him what it was. But curiosity kept pricking, sharper and sharper. Brambleberry was silent as a fish. There was clearly something on her mind.

“How do you know it’ll be my turn soon?” Crookedjaw repeated.

Brambleberry jumped onto a fallen tree that blocked the trail. She paused on top and stared down at him. “Nothing’s for certain.” Her eyes were darker than the shadows surrounding her. “The power is within you to be a fine warrior.” She slid down the other side and Crookedjaw followed, heart quickening. She went on as he fell in beside her. “Every cat knows that you’re going to be great, just from watching you.” Her gaze flashed up through the overlapping branches. “The stars don’t have to decide everything for us.”

Really? Crookedjaw flexed his claws. Brambleberry knew nothing! Then why am I being trained by StarClan?

Chapter 28

Fine snow drifted down from a wide gray sky and settled on the camp. Crookedjaw winced. His twisted jaw was aching with cold. But he didn’t care. Excitement sparked in his pelt. He sat with his Clanmates, lining the edge of the clearing, pelts dusty with snow as Hailstar called forward the next apprentice. Crookedjaw swished his tail.

“Sedgekit.” The RiverClan leader beckoned the brown tabby she-kit forward with a nod. Blackpaw, Skypaw, Loudpaw, and Reedpaw fidgeted behind him, eyes shining, their apprentice names still fresh on the tongues of their Clanmates. Hailstar’s decision to wait until Leopardkit had reached six moons before he made any new apprentices had been welcomed by the Clan. The young cats had been born so close together that they’d formed a strong bond.

“Why split them up?” Shellheart had argued. Hailstar agreed. Crookedjaw was just pleased that Leopardkit wouldn’t be alone in the nursery—even for a moon. He knew how painful it was to be left behind. Then he reminded himself that Leopardkit would have had Shimmerpelt to keep her company. Even though the night-black queen wanted to return to her warrior duties, Crookedjaw knew she wouldn’t abandon Leopardkit. She loved the golden-spotted kit too much.

Shifting his paws, he scowled at Rainflower. She sat apart in a chilly cloud of her own breath. If only she’d been able to see past his broken jaw and remember how much she had loved him at first. His accident had changed nothing about him except the way he looked—but for Rainflower, that had been everything. Crookedjaw pushed away the thought. The past couldn’t be changed. His own kits—if he had any—would be loved. The mate he’d chosen would never desert them, no matter what they did.

He pressed closer to Willowbreeze. “Thanks,” he whispered.

She glanced at him, surprised. “What for?”

“Just because…” He stared at her fondly, lost for words.

She purred and brushed the snow from his pelt with a paw. “Go on,” she whispered. “Hailstar’s calling you.”

Crookedjaw realized the eyes of the Clan were on him. Hailstar beckoned him forward with a nod. “May you share with Sedgepaw your courage, skill, and loyalty.”

Crookedjaw padded into the clearing and pressed his nose to his new apprentice’s head. She was trembling. “Don’t worry,” he whispered. “You’ll be great.”

He looked up and saw Oakheart standing beside his apprentice, Loudpaw. The young tom was fidgeting, tail up, clearly desperate for the ceremony to finish so he could start training. Oakheart whisked his tail over his restless apprentice’s ear and twitched one ear at Crookedjaw.

They were mentors at last.

Hailstar cleared his throat. “We have one more kit to welcome into RiverClan as an apprentice,” he announced.

At the edge of the clearing, Mudfur licked Leopardkit’s head, holding her back with a paw while she struggled.

“Stop it, Mudfur!” she squeaked. “It’s my turn!”

Eyes misting, he let her go, and she dashed into the clearing before Hailstar had even called her name.

“Leopardkit.” Hailstar purred as she skittered to a halt at his paws.

She blinked up at him. “Yes?”

“Until you earn your warrior name, you will be Leopardpaw.”

She stared eagerly around the clearing as Hailstar went on. “Your mentor will be Whitefang.”

Leopardpaw’s eyes widened as the huge white tom padded toward her. He pressed his muzzle to her head.

“I hope I grow as big as you,” she breathed.

Whitefang purred. “Perhaps not quite as big.”

Hailstar flicked his tail. “Whitefang, share with her your courage, discipline, and compassion.”

The Clan cheered, not just Leopardpaw’s name, but the names of all the new apprentices. Sedgepaw and Loudpaw raced to Ottersplash and bounced around her while Timberfur nuzzled Reedpaw. Shimmerpelt wrapped her tail around Skypaw while Piketooth tumbled across the clearing, play fighting with Blackpaw. Leopardpaw raced straight to Mudfur, nuzzling his cheek with her muzzle.