Eclipse

Lionpaw bristled. “But didn’t you see me fight in the mountains?” How much more training did he need? He was already a better fighter than any of his Clanmates. He had proved it!

“We’re not concerned with past battles,” Tigerstar meowed briskly. “Only the battles to come.”

Lionpaw narrowed his eyes. That sounded like an excuse.

They couldn’t see me in the mountains! Even Tigerstar’s powers had their limits.

“Let’s see if you can use your brains as well as your strength.”

Tigerstar padded behind Lionpaw and nudged him toward Hawkfrost. “Try attacking Hawkfrost from his weaker side.”

“But don’t you want to hear about the mountain cats?”

Tigerstar lashed his tail. “They’re no concern of mine.”

He’s not interested! Lionpaw stared at his ghostly mentor.

Didn’t he think Lionpaw could have learned something from going on the long journey and battling against different cats?

Did Tigerstar really believe he knew everything about fighting? Well, he certainly didn’t know everything about Lionpaw.

Maybe it was about time he did.

“What are you waiting for?” Tigerstar snapped. “Attack Hawkfrost!”

Anger surged in Lionpaw’s belly. He leaped for Hawkfrost and, unsheathing his claws, raked the striped warrior’s flank so fiercely he felt the skin burst and blood spatter his paw.

Yowling in fury, Hawkfrost jumped away from him, hackles raised.

Lionpaw swung around to face Tigerstar. “Will you listen to me now? I’ve got something important to tell you. There’s a prophecy! About me! That’s why I can fight the way I can.”

Tigerstar’s eyes flashed. “What do you mean, a prophecy?”

“An old cat told Firestar in a dream: ‘There will be three, kin of your kin, who will hold the power of the stars in their paws.’” Lionpaw recited the words just as Jaypaw had told him.

“Don’t you see? It must be about us, because Squirrelflight is Firestar’s kin.”

Tigerstar snorted in disgust. “Firestar!”

“But it’s true!” Lionpaw insisted. “If you’d seen me fight in the mountains you’d know. I defeated every cat who faced me. I felt like I could’ve fought forever and still defeated them all!”

“Only because I’ve trained you,” Tigerstar growled.

“It’s more than that!” Lionpaw argued. “I’ve got the power of the stars in my paws!”

“And Firestar told you this, did he?” Tigerstar sneered.

“No.” Lionpaw dug his claws into the cold earth. “Jaypaw walked in one of Firestar’s dreams. He overheard it.”

Tigerstar’s eyes suddenly glittered with amusement. “I see,” he mocked. “A cat has a dream and that means you’re the most powerful creature who ever lived.”

Why wasn’t Tigerstar taking this seriously? Wasn’t he proud to have kin who might eventually rule the forest?

Wasn’t that what he wanted? Lionpaw felt a growl rising in his throat. Perhaps Tigerstar wanted that only for himself.

“Don’t laugh at me.”

Hawkfrost’s whiskers twitched. “Look at the little warrior!

Pretending he’s Firestar. All big and brave.”

“How do you explain the battle in the mountains, then?”

Lionpaw demanded. “I wasn’t even hurt!”

“You beat a bunch of half-starved, untrained rogues,” Hawkfrost taunted him. “Wow. That’s a real sign of a great warrior!”

Lionpaw blinked. The ground suddenly felt colder under his paws. What if they were right? The mountain cats hadn’t exactly been a Clan of highly skilled warriors. The Tribe could have beaten them with any of the Clan cats’ help; they didn’t need the most powerful cat ever to win the battle. What if the prophecy was just a dream?

“Not so sure now, are you?” Tigerstar flicked his tail. “I know it must be nice to believe you’re the greatest warrior that ever lived, but would Firestar really have sent three such important cats to the mountains, where they might have been killed?”

Lionpaw’s belly fluttered with doubt. Firestar had never said anything about the prophecy. If he really believed they were special he wouldn’t have risked their lives. He would have kept them safe in camp, where they could take care of their Clan.

Tigerstar leaned forward, his breath stirring Lionpaw’s whiskers. “There’s only one path to power,” he hissed. “Training. Practice your battle skills, practice hard, and one day you may well be the most powerful cat in the forest.” He drew back, his voice hardening. “Now, repeat the battle move! But this time keep your claws sheathed. Unless I say otherwise!”

Chapter 4

Jaypaw pulled the sticky parcel of honeycomb onto the wide, flat leaf he had laid on the floor of the den. Already wrapped in dock leaves, the comb was still oozing honey. Fearing it would seep onto the other herbs stored in the rock cleft at the side of the den, Leafpool had found a wild rhubarb leaf and left Jaypaw to rewrap the honeycomb while she was out collecting catmint.

He folded over the sides of the leaf, hoping the gooey honey would hold them in place while he tied strips of bark around the wrap.