Dark River

Fallen Leaves!

Gingerly he reached out for the branch, feeling for the last uncrossed mark.

Now he knew what it meant. Fallen Leaves had gone into the tunnels, but he had never come out.

Chapter 15

Lionpaw leaped and twisted in the air, diving forward as he landed with his claws raking the ground.

Perfect! In battle, that would have beaten even the fastest ShadowClan warrior. Did you see how well I made the turn, Tigerstar?

Tigerstar had only taught him the move that afternoon.

Lionpaw had mastered it quickly. He sat back on his haunches now, panting, and sniffed the air. Heatherpaw’s late.

The cave was dark, the moon hidden by the rain that had been falling since sundown. Jaypaw had returned to camp just after dark, drenched to the skin. The mouse-brain had fallen asleep by the lake! Leafpool had hurried him away to dry off in the medicine den. There was still no sign of Hollypaw. The search party had followed her scent down to the shore where it bordered WindClan territory, and now Thornclaw was even more convinced that she had been captured by a WindClan patrol.

“Did you think I’d forgotten about you?” Heatherpaw’s mew sounded from the tunnel entrance.

Lionpaw leaped to his paws happily. “You’re late!”

“Sorry.” Heatherpaw was out of breath. “I caught Gorsetail’s kits following me. I had to take them back to camp.”

“They didn’t go near the tunnel entrance, did they?”

“No, but it was close.” Heatherpaw flicked her tail. “They kept themselves well hidden. I didn’t spot them till it was almost too late.”

Lionpaw’s pads pricked. What if their secret had been discovered? “I nearly didn’t come myself,” he confessed.

Heatherpaw widened her eyes. “Why not?”

“Hollypaw’s missing.”

“Missing?”

“A search party followed her trail as far as—” Lionpaw stopped. He didn’t want to let Heatherpaw know that Hollypaw might have crossed the WindClan border. Anxiety spiked his belly. He couldn’t be honest with her without feeling like a traitor to his Clan. The realization stung. At least she might give him some clue about where his sister had gone.

“Have you seen her?”

Heatherpaw shook her head.

Lionpaw gazed into her blue eyes. “Are you sure?”

Heatherpaw blinked. “Of course I’m sure!”

Guilt tickled in his tail. Heatherpaw wouldn’t lie to him.

Clearly WindClan hadn’t captured Hollypaw after all. Lionpaw narrowed his eyes. How could he tell his Clanmates without letting them know how he had found out?

“What are you thinking about?” It was Heatherpaw’s turn to sound suspicious.

“I was just wondering where Hollypaw could be,” Lionpaw lied.

“She’ll be okay,” Heatherpaw mewed, winding around Lionpaw. The touch of her fur soothed him.

“It’s just odd that she didn’t come back before dark.” It had been strange creeping out of the apprentices’ den without having to worry if Hollypaw had one eye open. He had felt guiltily relieved that he didn’t have to have an excuse ready in case she’d asked him where he was going.

“I bet she’ll be back at first light,” Heatherpaw mewed.

“I hope so.” Lionpaw sighed.

“So what have you been doing while you were waiting for me?” Heatherpaw sat back with her head on one side.

“I was practicing some new battle moves.” He plucked the ground excitedly. “Watch this one!”

Flicking his hind legs into the air, he spun around on his forepaws and leaped backward, then reared up and raked the air with each paw before tucking his head down and doing a neat forward roll.

“Impressive!” Heatherpaw pricked her ears. “Did you make it up yourself?”

“Yes.” Lionpaw couldn’t tell her that Tigerstar had taught him. She’d never believe him.

“It’d be perfect for a DarkClan warrior,” Heatherpaw mewed. “Teach me how to do it!”

Lionpaw demonstrated the move again and Heatherpaw copied him.

“Nearly,” he mewed. He crouched in front of her. “Try again, but this time aim your paws at me.”

She flicked out her hind legs, spun, and reared at him.

Lionpaw dodged as she lashed out with her paws, shouldering her away before she could dive into the roll. She fell sprawling onto the cave floor.

Lionpaw’s heart lurched. He had forgotten for a moment that he was stronger than her. He darted to her side and pressed his muzzle against her cheek. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?” Tigerstar’s training had made him even quicker and tougher than before.

“You only caught me because you knew what my next move was going to be!” she mewed. She twisted away from him and gave her shoulder a quick lick. “I just hope I never have to go into battle against you.” Her eyes glowed with affection as she looked back at him. “Not that I ever could.”

Lionpaw blinked. She was staring at him expectantly. Did she want him to make the same pledge? He couldn’t do that, not when it meant promising to be disloyal to his Clan.

“We’ll just have to hope we never have to,” he mewed, glancing away.

“Dawn’s coming.”