Эрин Хантер - The Silent Thaw

He had told Tigerstar about the vision, of course, and he remembered how his father’s eyes had darkened when he’d heard Dovewing’s name among the other cats. You must keep it to yourself. His father’s words still rang in his head. Shadowpaw was sure StarClan wanted him to share this terrible vision, and yet he must obey his leader. He swallowed. But I’m a medicine cat— by dawn he’d have his full medicine-cat name. Wasn’t his first duty to StarClan?

Shadowpaw shook out his fur as he followed Puddleshine into the clearing. His Clanmates clustered around the edge, murmuring excitedly as he walked past them. Pouncestep’s and Lightleap’s eyes shone. Strikestone puffed out his chest, while Scorchfur and Grassheart exchanged glances, as though agreeing with each other that they were lucky to have a medicine cat like Shadowpaw.

Shadowpaw’s pelt felt hot. He avoided the gaze of his Clanmates. What would they say if they knew he was keeping a vision from them?

“Shadowpaw.” Dovewing hurried to meet him as he crossed the clearing. “I’m so proud of you.” Her eyes began to shimmer with emotion, and she licked the top of his head fiercely. “You’re going to be a wonderful medicine cat.”

“He already is.” Tawnypelt padded toward him, purring. “He helped Bramblestar move safely to his next life.” She stopped a tail-length away and blinked at him gratefully. “Bramblestar was my littermate. I don’t know what I would have done if he’d never come back.” With StarClan so oddly silent, the medicine cats had feared for a while that Bramblestar wouldn’t be able to return for his next life.

Shadowpaw forced himself to blink happily at Tawnypelt. Dovewing had stepped away and was gazing at him lovingly. How could he expose her as a codebreaker? She’d never hurt any cat.

Tigerstar was waiting at the entrance.

As Shadowpaw saw him, Puddleshine looked back expectantly. “We’d better hurry, Shadowpaw,” he mewed. “The other medicine cats will be waiting. If the Moonpool really is thawing, we’ll be able to commune with StarClan again—we don’t want to miss that.”

Shadowpaw quickened his pace, relieved to be leaving his Clanmates behind. Their admiration was making him uncomfortable. He nodded to Tigerstar, hoping that his father wouldn’t want to make a fuss, but Tigerstar blocked his way. “You’ve earned your name,” he mewed fondly. “I know you’ll make a wise and loyal medicine cat who will always act in ShadowClan’s best interest.” He spoke slowly, and Shadowpaw could tell that Tigerstar wanted him to hear another meaning beneath his words. He’s warning me not to tell the other medicine cats about the vision.

“I’ll do my best, I promise.” Nervously, he met his father’s gaze, hoping Tigerstar couldn’t hear the quiver in his voice.

Tigerstar purred and gently nudged Shadowpaw after his mentor. “I hope you like your new name,” he called after him.

Shadowpaw hurried into the moonlit forest. He wondered what his new name would be. Had his father helped Puddleshine choose it? For the first time, excitement tingled in his paws. He was going to become a medicine cat. He’d dreamed of this moment since he was a kit. He just hoped that he could live up to the faith his Clanmates—and StarClan—had put in him.

The trek to the Moonpool was cold, but the air didn’t have the stony chill of the past few moons, when the stream trickling down from the pool and even the Moonpool itself had been frozen. As he scrambled up the rocks after Puddleshine and leaped over the lip of the stone hollow, Shadowpaw’s pelt rippled nervously. He hoped he wouldn’t make any mistakes during the ceremony. What if he didn’t like his new name?

The half-moon shone in a clear black sky. Shadowpaw could see silhouettes lined around the Moonpool, as still as rocks. The others were here. Puddleshine led him down the spiraling path, dimpled by countless moons of paw steps.

Jayfeather got to his paws first as they neared. “You’re here.” The blind medicine cat sounded pleased. Alderheart padded to his Clanmate’s side and greeted Puddleshine and Shadowpaw with a nod.

Willowshine’s eyes sparkled. “Are you nervous?” she asked Shadowpaw.

“A bit.” Shadowpaw glanced at the Moonpool. Stretches of open water gleamed between white patches of ice.

Kestrelflight followed his gaze. “It’s beginning to thaw.” The WindClan medicine cat’s pelt was fluffed. He sounded hopeful. “StarClan will be able to hear us tonight.”

“They could always hear us,” Jayfeather growled. “They just couldn’t speak.”

“They could speak to Shadowpaw,” Puddleshine reminded him gently.

Shadowpaw noticed Frecklewish look away. Was that doubt in her gaze? Did she wonder why StarClan had picked him? He wasn’t surprised. He’d wondered too. He blinked at the SkyClan medicine cat apologetically. “I’m sure they would have spoken to you if they could,” he told her.

“StarClan knows best,” Jayfeather mewed firmly. On the edge of the Moonpool, Mothwing stood, the dappled golden she-cat looking like she was biting her tongue while the others discussed their ancestors. Puddleshine had told Shadowpaw that, of all the medicine cats, Mothwing had the trickiest relationship with StarClan.

Frecklewish frowned. “It is strange that the only cat they could reach was the youngest and most inexperienced medicine cat.”

Puddleshine flicked his tail. “Perhaps his youth makes him easier to talk to. He’s not so bound by Clan tradition.”

Frecklewish looked at the ShadowClan medicine cat. “Is that meant to be a good thing?”

“That’s rich coming from a SkyClan cat,” Willowshine put in. “You lived away from Clan traditions for moons. It didn’t seem to do you any harm.”

“This is supposed to be a celebration.” Jayfeather padded between the cats, his pelt sleek in the moonlight. “Let’s stop arguing about who StarClan is supposed to speak to and get on with Shadowpaw’s ceremony. Then we can all share with StarClan at last.”

Silently, Kestrelflight, Willowshine, and Alderheart fanned out around the pool. Jayfeather sat on the smooth, cold rock while Frecklewish and Fidgetflake moved closer, watching as Puddleshine led Shadowpaw to the water’s edge.

Shadowpaw’s heart quickened. He pricked his ears, trying to remember when he was supposed to speak.

“I, Puddleshine of ShadowClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice.” His mentor raised his eyes to the sky, addressing the stars. Can they see me? Shadowpaw swallowed back anxiety as Puddleshine went on. “Shadowpaw has trained hard to understand the ways of a medicine cat, and with your help he will serve his Clan for many moons.”

Puddleshine fixed Shadowpaw with his gaze. “Do you promise to uphold the ways of a medicine cat, to stand apart from rivalry between Clan and Clan . . .”

Shadowpaw’s thoughts whirled. What if StarClan is angry I haven’t passed on their vision about the codebreakers? Will they stop me becoming a medicine cat? Shadowpaw glanced at the sky, half expecting to see the stars blink out and disappear. But they glittered on. He realized Puddleshine was looking at him expectantly. It’s my turn!

“I do!” he mewed quickly. His mew echoed around the rock walls of the hollow.

“Then by the powers of StarClan I give you your true name as a medicine cat. Shadowpaw, from this moment you will be known as Shadowsight. StarClan honors your insight, your courage, and your kindness, and we welcome you as a full medicine cat of ShadowClan.” Puddleshine touched his nose to Shadowpaw’s head, and Shadowpaw licked his mentor’s shoulder gratefully.