Erin Hunter - Sunset

“Yes, but very rarely, and only in times of greatest need.

Follow me.”

Rising, she brushed her muzzle lightly against Leafpool’s, then bounded away along the lakeshore. Leafpool raced after her. Moonlight shone all around her and she felt as though her paws were lighter than the wind. She skimmed across the stream that marked the WindClan border without even feeling the water touch her paws. Was this what it felt like to be a warrior of StarClan, she wondered—as though she could run forever, leap into the sky, and toss the moon like a shining leaf?

The whole journey might have lasted for several seasons, or no more than a heartbeat. The horseplace flickered past, and Feathertail slowed down as the two cats drew closer to the RiverClan camp. They crossed the stream and padded silently up the bank on the other side; Leafpool set her paws down as delicately as if she were stalking a mouse, even though she knew this was only a dream and she couldn’t wake the sleeping RiverClan warriors.

Mothwing’s den was in a cave hollowed out by the stream on the far side of the camp. As Feathertail led the way toward it, Leafpool spotted the small gray shape of Willowpaw curled up in a nest of moss just outside.

Feathertail flicked her ear gently with the tip of her tail.

“Willowpaw,” she breathed. “Willowpaw, we need to speak to you.”

The small gray cat’s ears twitched and she curled up more tightly. Feathertail nudged her with one paw, softly repeating her name. This time Willowpaw blinked and looked up.

“Do you mind?” she mewed crossly. “I was chasing this huge fat mouse and I was just going to sink my claws in it when—” She broke off, gazing from Leafpool to Feathertail and back again. “I’m still dreaming, aren’t I?” Her eyes stretched very wide. “You’re Leafpool from ThunderClan, and you must be a warrior from StarClan.” Looking dismayed, she slapped the tip of her tail over her mouth. “I’m so sorry I snapped at you,” she mumbled through her fur.

Feathertail’s blue eyes glimmered with amusement. “Don’t worry, dear one. You’ll soon get used to visits in your dreams, now that you’re a medicine cat apprentice.”

Willowpaw scrambled to her paws. “Welcome to RiverClan,” she meowed formally. A puzzled look crept over her face. “You have RiverClan scent,” she mewed to Feathertail, “but I don’t know you.”

“My name is Feathertail,” the silvery she-cat replied. “You weren’t even born when I left on the journey to the sun-drown-place.”

Willowpaw’s eyes filled with awe. “And you never came back,” she whispered. “You gave your life to save your friends and the Tribe in the mountains. I’ve heard the story.

RiverClan will never forget you.”

Feathertail blinked affectionately and let her tail rest for a moment on Willowpaw’s shoulder. “Enough of that, dear one,” she mewed. “Tonight we’re here to show you something.”

“Me?” Willowpaw exclaimed. “Are you sure? Do you want me to fetch Mothwing?”

Leafpool and Feathertail exchanged a glance. Leafpool wasn’t sure how much Willowpaw understood. Did she realize that her mentor had no contact with StarClan?

“No, this sign is for you,” Feathertail assured her. “You can tell Mothwing about it when you wake up. Now you must come with us.”

The young apprentice’s paws danced in the grass. “Are we going a long way?” she asked. “As far as the sun-drown-place?”

“Not this time,” Leafpool told her. “Just to the edge of your territory.”

Remembering what Mudfur had told her about where to find the catmint, she took the lead, crossing the stream and heading across RiverClan territory to the small Thunderpath. Drawing closer to it, she could pick up the reek of Twoleg monsters and more smells from the Twolegs who came to sail their boats on the lake, almost drowning the scent markers of both Clans. Even in a dream, she was cautious as she emerged from the undergrowth on the edge of the Thunderpath, but everything was dark and silent. All the Twolegs must have gone back to their nests when darkness fell.

With Willowpaw right behind her and Feathertail bringing up the rear, Leafpool padded along the Thunderpath, away from the lake. When she crossed the border scent markers she still hadn’t found the Twoleg nests Mudfur had told her about, but as she followed the Thunderpath around a wide curve, she spotted a light in a hollow not far ahead: a reddish light that didn’t come from moon or stars.

Her pelt prickled as she thought of fire, but she could not feel any heat or hear the crackle of burning. There was no scent of smoke either, but as she drew in air, she tasted the faintest possible trace of catmint.

“Down there,” she murmured over her shoulder.

She padded on more cautiously, and realized a few moments later that the light came from a hole in the side of a Twoleg nest. It was shining behind a pelt that gave it a reddish color. Looming up ahead of her was the dark shape of a Twoleg fence. Gathering herself, she leaped up and balanced herself on the top. Willowpaw scrambled up beside her, while Feathertail remained below.

The smell of catmint was stronger now. Willowpaw had picked it up too, and her eyes glinted in triumph. “Catmint!”

“That’s right,” Leafpool mewed. “A very useful herb for medicine cats, and quite hard to find, unless there are Twolegs to grow it for us.”

Willowpaw nodded. “Yes, it cures greencough. I wish we’d had some when Heavystep was ill. Mothwing and the patrols looked all over the territory.”

Leafpool swallowed another pang of guilt. “Tomorrow she can fetch some from here,” she told Willowpaw. “But be sure to warn her to wait until after dark, when there aren’t so many Twolegs around.”

Still balanced on top of the fence, she tasted the air again for any likely dangers. “No kittypets or dogs,” she meowed with relief. “Willowpaw, do you know what dogs smell like?”

The apprentice shuddered. “Yes, some of the Twolegs who come to the lake bring their dogs with them. They smell yucky.”

“Well, I don’t think there are any here, but tell Mothwing to check again when she comes for the catmint. And now we’d better be getting back,” she added.

Leaping down, they rejoined Feathertail and made their way back through RiverClan territory to the camp.

“Sleep deeply now,” Feathertail told Willowpaw as she settled in her nest again. “See if that fat mouse is still waiting.”

Willowpaw looked up at the two cats. “I’m so glad you came,” she mewed. “It’s great being a medicine cat. I can’t wait to tell Mothwing!”

Leafpool and Feathertail left her curled up again and set off around the lake to ThunderClan territory. This time they padded along more slowly.

“Thank you, Leafpool,” Feathertail meowed. “You’ve done well tonight.” She paused beside the stream that formed ThunderClan’s border with WindClan. Her gaze locked with Leafpool’s. “I spoke with Spottedleaf,” she mewed. “She told me about the butterfly sign.”

Leafpool felt a shiver run through every hair on her pelt.

“You understand, don’t you?” the StarClan cat continued.

“You know what that means for Mothwing?”

“I guessed that Hawkfrost must have put the moth’s wing outside Mudfur’s den,” Leafpool confessed, the words threatening to choke her. “I don’t know how I’m going to face Mothwing now. What can I say to her?”

“Say nothing.” Feathertail’s voice was quiet, but filled with certainty. “Mothwing must learn to live with it.”

“Then… then does this mean Mothwing can’t be a medicine cat anymore?” Leafpool stammered. “She cares so much—”

“I know,” Feathertail interrupted with a soothing purr.