Эрин Хантер - Night Whispers

“Yes, Ivypaw.” That was Jayfeather speaking.

Dovepaw shook her head. She must be hearing voices outside the den. She reached past the den walls into the ice-cold camp, casting her senses, searching for the conversation that had disturbed her sleep.

“Are you sure?” Lionblaze sounded breathless with disbelief.

What were they saying about Ivypaw? Why did they sound so worried? Trembling, Dovepaw scrambled out of the den. I’m one of the Three. They should be talking to me. I’m Ivypaw’s sister. She headed for the barrier, hurrying lightly over the frosted earth.

The entrance was less than a tail-length away when a voice called from outside the nursery. “Dovepaw!”

She halted, frustrated.

Berrynose was watching her. “Where are you going?” The young warrior’s creamy coat glowed in the pale light. Molekit and Cherrykit huddled beside him, tiny clouds of air spouting from their noses.

“Dirtplace.”

“Then use the dirtplace tunnel.”

Lionblaze’s voice pricked Dovepaw’s ear fur once more. “She knew him?”

Knew who?

Dovepaw had to find out. She turned and trotted to the dirtplace tunnel. She could slip out that way and find them.

Paw steps followed her. “Are you going to the dirtplace?” Ivypaw, her fur ruffled from sleep, fell in beside her. “Me too.”

Dovepaw curled her claws with frustration. There was no way she could slip away now. Ivypaw would want to come with her. As she pricked her ears, searching out Lionblaze again, she noticed that Ivypaw was limping.

“What’s wrong?” Her worries swiftly focused on her sister. Ivypaw was favoring one of her hind paws, treading lightly on one, heavily on the other. “I thought you weren’t injured in the battle.”

“I must have slept on it funny,” Ivypaw muttered. The silver-and-white she-cat stiffened as though trying to disguise her limp. “Wasn’t the battle exciting?” Ivypaw changed the subject.

“You enjoyed it?” Dovepaw stared at her sister. “But Firestar lost a life.”

“Well, that bit was bad, and Russetfur dying. But it felt so good to use all the skills we’ve learned.”

Dovepaw ducked through the dirtplace tunnel. “I’d rather stick to using hunting skills and save the fighting skills for defending my Clan.”

“But we were defending our Clan!” Ivypaw followed her. “ShadowClan was going to steal our territory. Don’t you remember my dream?”

Dovepaw didn’t answer. She still didn’t understand why StarClan had sent a dream to Ivypaw and not to her. She made her dirt and headed back into camp.

The Clan was stirring. Graystripe padded past, yawning, heading toward the warriors’ den. He cast a baleful glance at the clear dawn sky. “This chill is here to stay. Prey will be scarce before long.”

Hazeltail padded after the gray warrior. “That was a long, cold night,” she commented.

Graystripe paused to brush muzzles with Millie, who was nosing her way out of the warriors’ den. “You’re warm,” he purred.

Millie pressed against him. “Get some rest,” she told him. “It’s warm inside. I’ll catch you something nice for when you wake up.”

The first rays of sun sliced over the top of the hollow and washed the nursery in orange light. Dovepaw reached again for the conversation that had woken her, but Lionblaze and Jayfeather were heading away from camp, silent now except for their paw steps, which crunched over frozen leaves.

Why are they being so secretive?

“Hey!” Ivypaw hurried from the dirtplace tunnel. “You didn’t wait for me.”

Dovepaw forced her mew to sound light. “Are you surprised?” She wrinkled her nose.

“Are you saying I stink?” Ivypaw reared and cuffed her playfully, then winced and dropped back onto all four paws.

“Maybe you should see Jayfeather about that leg,” Dovepaw suggested.

“It’ll be okay,” Ivypaw promised. “Look.” She turned toward the halfrock, where Brambleclaw and Firestar were organizing the day’s patrols. “There are more important things to worry about.”

“I want two patrols along the new ShadowClan border.” Firestar lifted his chin as he gave the order, but his green eyes were tired. The fur at his throat was still clumped with blood where Russetfur had bitten him.

Toadstep, Icecloud, Cinderheart, and Rosepetal clustered beside the halfrock. Thornclaw, Sandstorm, and Dustpelt sat farther back, while Leafpool and Squirrelflight paced nearby.

“What’s the plan?” Cloudtail joined them, his blue eyes bleary with sleep.

“Two patrols,” Squirrelflight told him.

Firestar went on. “Brambleclaw will lead the lake patrol; Dustpelt will take the other. Thornclaw, Whitewing, and Squirrelflight, go with Brambleclaw.”

Thornclaw dipped his head. Whitewing nodded. Squirrelflight flashed an uncertain look at Brambleclaw, dropping her gaze when he returned it through narrowed eyes.

Firestar pressed on. “Cloudtail, Sorreltail, and Spiderleg, you go with Dustpelt.”

Cloudtail turned at once, fur bristling, and headed for the camp entrance. Sorreltail followed him, her denmates close on her heels. They filed out of camp, tails bushed as though ready for a fight.

“Cinderheart.” Firestar turned his attention to the gray she-cat. “It’s leaf-bare. The Clan needs skilled hunters, so practice stalking with Ivypaw today. I don’t want to let this battle distract our apprentices from their training one moment longer. Lionblaze, do the same with Dovepaw.”

Dovepaw stiffened as Firestar scanned the camp. “Where is Lionblaze?” he said.

Berrynose stepped forward. “He went out with Jayfeather just before dawn.”

Firestar’s eye caught Dovepaw’s. She could tell that he wanted to know if something was wrong. Dovepaw shrugged. She knew no more than he did.

Firestar frowned. “In that case, Dovepaw, join Cinderheart and Ivypaw.” He turned to Berrynose. “Go with them. You can take Lionblaze’s place today.”

Ivypaw leaned closer to Dovepaw. “Great,” she muttered. “Hunting practice and Berrynose.”

Dovepaw understood her sister’s frustration. They had fought alongside warriors yesterday. Today they were back to being apprentices.

“Come on.” Berrynose led the way to the entrance. As they passed the nursery, Molekit and Cherrykit broke away from Poppyfrost’s side and skipped between his paws, almost tripping him. A loud purr rumbled in Berrynose’s throat. “You’ll be warriors soon enough,” he promised. “And when you are, ShadowClan won’t dare threaten our territory.”

Ivypaw rolled her eyes and whispered to Dovepaw, “Does he have to show off about everything?”

Dovepaw hardly heard her. She was casting her senses after Jayfeather and Lionblaze. Where are you?

A shove from behind surprised her. “Stop staring into the trees,” Cinderheart chided gently. “Firestar’s right. Hunting is our priority in leaf-bare. I want you to focus.”

Dovepaw dipped her head and followed Berrynose and Ivypaw out of the hollow.

“Bring us back a vole!” Cherrykit called after them.

As they trailed through the forest to the training hollow, Dovepaw was still fretting. Why were Lionblaze and Jayfeather talking about Ivypaw ? She recalled the knowing look her sister had exchanged with Tigerheart during the battle. In that brief glance it had seemed the two young cats weren’t enemies at all. She frowned. Had Lionblaze seen it too? Was he suspicious of Ivypaw’s loyalty? Surely not!

“Dovepaw.” Berrynose jolted her from her thoughts. “Concentrate!”

They’d reached the hollow and had stopped in the middle of the sandy clearing.

“What did I just say?” Berrynose demanded.