Dark River

How can you be so nearsighted? Hollypaw bit back the words.

Squirrelflight paused and gazed at her. “I know you think you were doing the right thing, but you are only an apprentice. How can you possibly understand? Your duty is to listen and learn and leave the decision-making to the warriors.”

Hollypaw’s paws itched with resentment. Why did being an apprentice mean that her opinion didn’t count? She lowered her eyes to hide her anger.

Squirrelflight clearly took this as a sign of obedience.

“Good.” She began to hurry along the shore. The border was in sight and Hollypaw felt relieved to see it.

A thought suddenly flashed in her mind. She was surprised she hadn’t thought of it before. “How did you know I was with RiverClan?”

“Jaypaw had a dream,” Squirrelflight replied flatly. She didn’t seem surprised by her son’s uncanny abilities; Jaypaw was a medicine cat apprentice, after all. Hollypaw felt proud of her brother, but unease still pricked her paws. What must it feel like to have that sort of power? If he knew where she had been, did that mean he knew about the RiverClan camp?

She wouldn’t breathe a word about it to Firestar, but would Jaypaw do the same?

The camp fell silent as Hollypaw followed Squirrelflight into the clearing.

Hollypaw heard Brightheart whispering to Sorreltail.

“She’s back!”

Brook stopped washing and looked up. “Glad to see you’re safe.”

Stormfur nodded at her but said nothing. Dustpelt and Thornclaw only glanced at her before returning to their hushed conversation. Hollypaw knew she was in big trouble.

“Hollypaw!” Lionpaw raced from the apprentice den. He looked bright-eyed, as though he’d been asleep for ages. He weaved around her, purring. “You smell like fish!”

Jaypaw padded out of the medicine den and blinked, his blue eyes staring directly at her. Yet again Hollypaw had the unnerving sense that he could see her, even though she knew he couldn’t.

“You need to see Firestar,” Squirrelflight informed her.

Hollypaw’s fur tingled as her mother watched her climb the tumble of rocks to Highledge. Heart pounding, she stepped into Firestar’s cave. Brackenfur was waiting beside the ThunderClan leader. “Welcome back.” His mew was grim.

Firestar narrowed his eyes. “You’ve caused a lot of worry and effort at a time when the Clan can least afford it,” he meowed.

“I was only trying to—”

Firestar cut her off. “We don’t want to hear excuses. You broke the warrior code. I told you plainly that we were not going to interfere with RiverClan but you went there anyway.

You abandoned your Clan when it needs its warriors and apprentices more than ever.”

“But I’ve found something out. You mustn’t fight WindClan!”

“Why not?”

Hollypaw scraped her claws over the rocky floor. “I can’t tell you.”

“Can’t?”

“I’ve made a promise.” Hollypaw’s tail twitched unhappily.

“You have to trust me. There’s no need to fight.”

Firestar whisked his tail over the ground. “Do you really expect me to make decisions for the Clan based on that?”

Hollypaw opened her mouth, but what could she say?

“You will be confined to camp for a day,” Firestar went on.

“It should be longer, but we can’t spare you right now. Patrols have been stepped up since the incident with WindClan, and you are expected to play your part in them. But you will be responsible for looking after the elders for the next moon.

It’ll be up to you to make sure they are fed and their bedding is kept clean, and don’t think about asking your denmates for help. This will be your responsibility alone.”

Hollypaw dipped her head. The promise she’d made to Leopardstar stuck in her throat, but she was determined to honor it. She wasn’t going to have every cat who knew her accuse her of being disloyal. At least RiverClan didn’t treat her like a stupid kit—they even thought she might have been a spy. “Is that it?” she muttered.

Firestar flicked his tail. “You may as well start now.

Mousefur and Longtail will be grateful for fresh bedding.”

“Okay.” Hollypaw turned and padded out of the den. Why couldn’t Firestar have more faith in her? Had he

been to RiverClan? The Clan leaders only looked as far as the end of their whiskers. Well, let them! She’d just get on with her duties and keep her mouth shut. Angrily, she skidded down the rocky slope and stomped to Leafpool’s den.

She poked her head through the brambles. “Can I have some fresh bedding for the elders’ den?”

Leafpool was unwrapping the cobwebs from Cinderpaw’s leg.

“Hollypaw!” Cinderpaw mewed. “Jaypaw’s dream was right!”

“Of course it was right!” Jaypaw was sorting herbs at the back of the den. He turned to face Hollypaw. “I suppose Firestar’s put you on nettles and water for a moon?”

“Not quite.” Hollypaw’s whiskers twitched. It was good to hear Jaypaw’s grouchy mew again. “Thanks for sending Squirrelflight to find me.”

“No problem.” Jaypaw shrugged and then went back to his sorting.

Leafpool was staring at her with troubled eyes. “I’m glad you’re safe,” she meowed.

“I’m sorry I worried everyone,” Hollypaw replied.