Эрин Хантер - The Raging Storm

Violetshine pulled away and looked deep into his eyes. Love bubbled inside her. “Never leave me again.”

“I won’t.”

“Even if a whole patrol of dead warriors tells you to.”

“I promise.”

She touched her nose to his cheek and turned to Finleap. “Thank you!”

Finleap’s eyes shone as Violetshine hurried toward him. “It looks like we arrived just in time.”

“You were so brave!” Violetshine blinked at him. “Where did you learn to swim?”

“That wasn’t swimming,” he joked. “It was drowning.”

“You saved Leafstar.”

As she spoke, Twigbranch hurried to her side and thrust her muzzle against her ear, purring. “I was worried I was never going to see you again.”

Violetshine breathed in Twigbranch’s scent. “What are you doing here?”

“I persuaded Bramblestar to let me bring a patrol to beg Leafstar to return to the lake.”

“But RiverClan and WindClan cats are with you.” Violetshine was confused.

“We wanted to show Leafstar that we all want SkyClan beside the lake,” Twigbranch explained. “We thought it was the only way to convince her to come back.”

Violetshine lifted her muzzle to the sky. Rain washed her face. “I think she knows now that we shouldn’t have left.”

“Let’s hope so.” Twigbranch glanced at Leafstar, who was looking dazed beside Willowshine. “We can talk to her when she’s recovered.”

Violetshine blinked at Finleap again. “I still can’t believe you risked your life to save her.”

Finleap shrugged. “Any cat would’ve done the same.”

“But you’re the only one who did.” Violetshine caught Twigbranch’s eye. “I can see why you love him so much. He’s a great warrior.”

Twigbranch looked at Finleap. Was that sadness in her eyes? “He is,” she murmured. “And I do love him. Very much.”

CHAPTER 22

Alderheart stifled a shiver and paced along the scent line. He’d been waiting with Bramblestar at the ShadowClan border since sunhigh. The storm rocked the trees and rain trickled through the canopy. “Can we just cross it?”

“No.” Bramblestar shook drops from his whiskers. “We’ll wait for a patrol to take us to the camp. I don’t want to start the meeting on the wrong paw.”

It had been two days since Alderheart had told Bramblestar that Juniperclaw had stolen deathberry seeds from the medicine den, and Bramblestar was finally willing to travel to ShadowClan and discuss the matter with Tigerstar. “There needs to be peace between the Clans,” he had told Alderheart that morning. “And you were right. How can that happen when a rogue-hearted cat is a deputy? How could he ever be trusted? What if he becomes leader?”

Alderheart had greeted the news with relief. He could see from his father’s face that Bramblestar wasn’t optimistic about their mission but that, with the storm worsening by the day, he clearly felt he couldn’t ignore the problem any longer.

Now Alderheart peered into ShadowClan territory, hoping to glimpse a patrol. “Tigerstar will have to listen,” he mewed.

“Tigerstar is young,” Bramblestar cautioned. “And he has a lot to prove after running away and then returning with a ThunderClan mate and half-Clan kits. It will be hard for him to admit that he chose badly when he made Juniperclaw deputy.”

“But he has to face it,” Alderheart pressed. “Juniperclaw tried to murder another cat. Tigerstar can’t let him get away with that.”

“Tigerstar can do what he likes.” Bramblestar’s eyes were dark. “I don’t know whether he will admit his mistake or cover it up.”

“He can’t cover it up!”

“Why not?” Bramblestar scanned the ShadowClan forest. “He’s ambitious, and he has the unquestioning loyalty of his Clan.”

Paw steps thrummed beyond the brambles. Bramblestar pricked his ears.

“Here they come.” Alderheart fluffed out his fur and watched as Strikestone, Blazepaw, and Snaketooth burst from the bushes.

They pulled up at the border. Snaketooth’s pelt bristled as she saw Bramblestar. “What are you doing here?”

“I want to speak with Tigerstar.” Bramblestar gazed at her calmly.

Strikestone narrowed his eyes. “Why?”

“Isn’t the storm keeping you busy?” Snaketooth growled. “We thought you’d be preparing for a flood.”

Blazepaw tipped his head. “Perhaps the sun is shining in ThunderClan territory.”

Strikestone curled his lip. “The sun always shines on ThunderClan,” he mewed sarcastically.

Bramblestar flicked his tail impatiently. “I don’t have time for this,” he told them. “Take me to Tigerstar.”

Strikestone and Snaketooth exchanged glances.

“Okay.” Strikestone lifted his muzzle. “But hurry up. We have so much territory to patrol now that SkyClan is gone.”

“And plenty of prey to hunt.” Snaketooth beckoned Bramblestar across the border with her tail.

Alderheart’s pelt prickled nervously as he followed. Had ShadowClan forgotten the vision? “Aren’t you worried now that SkyClan has left?”

“Why?” Snaketooth began to head toward the ShadowClan camp. “It’s what we wanted.”

Alderheart was surprised by her indifference. “What about the storm?” Surely they could see that the vision was coming true?

“Storms pass,” Strikestone grunted. “We’ve survived worse.”

Alderheart glanced at Bramblestar. His father was staring ahead, his gaze unreadable. Only the faintest prickle along his spine betrayed his unease. Alderheart padded beside him as Strikestone, Snaketooth, and Blazepaw flanked them. His optimism was fading. ShadowClan clearly didn’t regret driving SkyClan away. Perhaps they wouldn’t care what Juniperclaw had done.

They ducked into the camp after Strikestone. Blazepaw and Snaketooth followed them in. Cloverfoot and Scorchfur were sharing a mouse beside the fresh-kill pile. Rain pounded their pelts. The overhanging alder and pine gave little shelter, and the wide clearing was slick with mud. Tawnypelt sat at the edge. Her fur was wet, but she made no effort to move, even when she saw Bramblestar.

Scorchfur looked up, chewing. He blinked at the patrol and jumped to his paws. “Bramblestar’s here with Alderheart,” he called as he hurried to Tigerstar’s den.

Tigerstar padded out, with Dovewing just behind him. The leader’s gaze was wary. He’s clearly wondering why we’ve come , Alderheart thought.

The dark brown tom stopped at the edge of the clearing and stared at Bramblestar. “Welcome.”

Bramblestar stopped a tail-length from the ShadowClan leader. He shifted his paws uneasily. “Have you heard about RiverClan’s flood?” he began.

“We’ve seen it for ourselves,” Tigerstar told him.

“RiverClan is sheltering with WindClan,” Alderheart told him.

“They could have come to us,” Tigerstar meowed evenly. “We have enough prey now to spare for a Clan driven from its home.”

But not SkyClan. Alderheart swallowed back the words. Instead he glanced toward the medicine den. “How is Shadowkit?”

“Still having the same vision.” Tigerstar stood unflinching in the rain. “But the fits have eased. It comes as bad dreams now.”

“You must be worried.” Alderheart blinked at him sympathetically.

“Nothing will happen to him.” Tigerstar swished his tail. “I don’t intend to let him out of my sight.”

How could he be so sure that the kit’s vision wouldn’t come true? “But with the flooding, aren’t you—”