Crookedstar’s Promise

“Sorry!” Sedgepaw flattened her ears. “I know I talk too much but I just want to be the best apprentice. I’m so glad you’re my mentor. You’re the strongest cat in RiverClan, except Rippleclaw, but he’s old—not an elder or anything—but you’re younger and you remember what it’s like to be a ’paw. And I’m going to listen to everything you tell me—”

Crookedjaw felt a twinge of guilt. He’d never been this enthusiastic with Cedarpelt. He’d valued his mentor’s training; it had been useful. But it was Mapleshade who’d taught him the most about courage and skill in battle. He gazed at Sedgepaw. She was still chattering like a blackbird. Would she have a StarClan mentor, too?

No. Surely there wasn’t room in the Clan for more than one warrior with a great destiny?

Crookedjaw yawned. Most of the Clan had gone to their nests for the night. The moss draping Hailstar’s entrance twitched behind him as the RiverClan leader disappeared for the night. Ottersplash, Lakeshine, and Shimmerpelt were shaking the dusty moss from their nests. The elders were murmuring in their den.

The wind had already dropped and the night was silent and still.

Willowbreeze nudged him toward their den. “Let’s go to sleep.”

Curled in their nest, Crookedjaw closed his eyes. Willowbreeze wriggled closer, tucking her nose into his fur. Crookedjaw sighed happily. I’m a mentor.

There was nothing to stop him from becoming deputy now. Purring, he drifted into sleep.

“So you’re a mentor.” Mapleshade’s rasping mew woke him into a dream. The forest loomed dark around him.

He puffed out his chest. “Yes.”

“With an apprentice of your own.” Her amber eyes glowed. “Do you think you’ve got nothing left to learn?”

“No!” Crookedjaw gasped. “I know I’m not ready to be leader. I’m not even ready to be deputy!” Didn’t she realize how relieved he was to see her again? It had been such a long time since he’d dreamed of her. He was worried he was losing his edge over the other warriors in the Clan. Beetlenose had caught more fish than him yesterday. “I want you to teach me everything you know. I want to become the best leader I can. My Clan deserves that.”

Mapleshade narrowed her eyes. “Good,” she murmured. “You’re still worthy of my teaching.” She circled him, her gaze unwavering.

“Look!” Crookedjaw ran, leaped, and twisted in the air, kicking out with his hind legs and jabbing with his forepaws. He landed skillfully on all four paws. He’d been practicing the move since he’d seen Thistleclaw do it. He was sure he’d gotten it right.

“Not bad, I suppose,” she conceded.

“Not bad?” He stared at her. It was brilliant.

“Tell me your promise,” she demanded.

“Again?”

“Tell me that there’s nothing as important as looking after your Clan, no matter what it costs you!” Her eyes burned.

Crookedjaw frowned. “Okay.” He gritted his teeth. “There’s nothing as important as looking after my—”

“Say it like you really mean it!” Mapleshade thrust her face into his.

Straightening, Crookedjaw tried again. “There’s nothing as important as looking after my Clan, no matter what it costs me!” he meowed loudly.

“Promise?”

“I promise.” His ear twitched. Why did she keep insisting he promised over and over again? And was this promise the reason Mapleshade had led the Twolegs to Willowbreeze?

Chapter 29

Greenleaf had taken hold. The sun shone from a wide blue sky and the beech copse swayed in the breeze. Sedgepaw crouched beneath the whispering leaves, chest pressed to the grass.

“Quietly now.” Crookedjaw dropped a leaf a tail-length in front of her. “Pretend this is a bird. It has better hearing than you. It’s faster than you.” He leaned closer. “And it’s much more frightened than you.”

Sedgepaw narrowed her eyes. She pulled herself forward, silent as a snake. Good. Crookedjaw willed her on. One paw at a time, she crept up on the leaf. Then, in a sudden flurry of paws, she jumped.

“Did I get it? Did I get it?” she squeaked.

Crookedjaw’s heart sank. She’d landed half a tail-length past it.

Oakheart shrugged. “It was a good try.”

“You could do better, though.” Beetlenose padded from the trees, while Reedpaw and Loudpaw snuffled with amusement behind him. He silenced them with a flick of his tail. “Sedgepaw,” he meowed gently. “You’ve got a lot of strength in your hind legs.” He glanced at Crookedjaw, making sure that it was okay to offer advice to his apprentice.

Crookedjaw nodded. “Go ahead.” He could use all the help he could get with Sedgepaw. She had so much enthusiasm; it was painful watching her fail at every task by a whisker.

Beetlenose hooked the leaf in his paw. “You need to adjust your jump to take all that strength into account.” He dropped the leaf in front of her. “Don’t push so hard and keep your eye on your target.”

Sedgepaw crouched again. “I’ll get it this time.”

“If it doesn’t get you first,” Reedpaw teased.