The Apprentice's Quest

All the cats in the clearing turned toward the Highledge. Leafpool and Jayfeather emerged from their den and sat side by side in front of the bramble screen. Lilyheart and Daisy appeared from the nursery and settled themselves near the entrance while Lilyheart’s kits play wrestled around their paws. Cloudtail, Brightheart, and Dovewing slid out from the warriors’ den and took their places at the foot of the rock wall.

Purdy broke off a story he was telling to Snowbush and Ambermoon. “I’ll finish the rest later,” he promised as he padded off to flop down beside Graystripe and Millie near the elders’ den.

Alderpaw looked around for Sparkpaw and spotted her emerging from the thorn tunnel with Cherryfall and Molewhisker. She’s hardly limping at all, he told himself with a burst of pride. I did a good job. All three cats were loaded with prey; they bounded across the camp to drop it on the fresh-kill pile, then joined their Clanmates to listen to Bramblestar.

“Cats of ThunderClan,” their leader began, “I have important news. Alderpaw has had a vision about the prophecy from StarClan. We think that it will help us find what will ‘clear the sky,’ and so he must go on a quest to find the place that he saw in his dream. Because

Sandstorm knows about some of what he saw in the vision, she will be going with him.”

Murmurs of amazement rose from the assembled cats at Bramblestar’s words, and they exchanged glances alive with curiosity.

Alderpaw thought that Graystripe and Millie looked especially shocked to hear that Sandstorm would be part of the quest.

“Why Alderpaw, and not one of the medicine cats?” Thornclaw asked, sounding faintly aggressive.

Leafpool spoke up from her place in front of her den. “Alderpaw is a medicine cat, Thornclaw, and you know that as well as I do.

As for why StarClan chose him…” She shrugged. “I’m sure they knew what they were doing.”

“More important, why

Sandstorm?”

Brightheart asked, with an affectionate glance at the ginger she-cat. “She’s an elder; she’s earned her rest.”

“Because I was afraid she would claw my ears off if I forbade her from going,” Bramblestar responded drily.

“And I would have,” Sandstorm muttered.

“There are reasons why I believe Sandstorm is vital to the quest,” Bramblestar went on.

“Now all that’s left is to choose warriors to join the group.”

Several enthusiastic yowls greeted his words.

“I’ll go!”

“Let me!”

Sparkpaw scampered up to Alderpaw and pressed herself against his side, her eyes shining. “I’ll come and help you!” she mewed.

“Oh, thank you!” Alderpaw responded, his relief at the thought of having his sister with him flooding over him.

Then he noticed that Bramblestar and Squirrelflight, up on the Highledge, were exchanging dubious glances. Cherryfall, who had followed her apprentice, shook her head sternly. “Bramblestar decides who will go,” she told Sparkpaw. “And he’s not likely to choose an apprentice for a quest like this.”

Shaken, Alderpaw gazed up at Bramblestar.

“Please,” he begged desperately, “can’t

Sparkpaw come?”

Bramblestar paused, clearly torn, while

Squirrelflight leaned closer to him and murmured something into his ear. She looked horrified at the thought of both their kits risking themselves on this quest.

The Clan leader and his deputy spoke together quietly for a few heartbeats. Then Bramblestar turned back to the cats in the clearing. “Very well,” he meowed. “Sparkpaw may go with you. And in that case,” he added, raising his voice to be heard above Sparkpaw’s squeals of triumph, “Cherryfall and Molewhisker will join the group as well.”

The two cats exchanged delighted glances.

“You leave at dawn tomorrow,” Bramblestar finished. “And may StarClan light your path.”

“Alderpaw! Come on! Wake up!”

Sparkpaw’s voice seemed to come from a long way away. Alderpaw opened his eyes, blinked blearily, and made out her face right next to his, her green eyes gleaming in the shadow of their den.

“Wake up!” she repeated, prodding him hard in the side. “It’s time to go. This is your quest, mouse-brain, and you’re still asleep.”

Alderpaw stretched his jaws into a massive yawn and staggered to his paws. He had lain awake for so long the night before, thinking about the quest, that it felt as if he had only been sleeping for a heartbeat.

Following Sparkpaw, he scrambled through the ferns that shaded the apprentices’ den and headed out into the clearing, holding his head and tail high to hide how nervous he felt.

The dawn air was damp and chilly, striking deep into Alderpaw’s fur. Above his head the sky was washed with the pale light of dawn, and a faint breeze was rustling the trees on top of the hollow.

It seemed to Alderpaw that the whole of ThunderClan was out in the clearing, most of them clustering around the medicine cats’ den.

Their excited murmurs sounded like the buzzing of a whole colony of bees.