Paws Of Stars book #1: Rising Tides

Chapter 22

Lionpaw shivered. The rain had reached right to his skin. It was good that the rain seemed to be erasing the frost that had covered the ground for days, but in it's place was cold water that pierced and chilled him right to the bone as it sunk into his fur. He dropped his vole on the fresh-kill pile and shook the water from his pelt.

"That was good," Ashfur congratulated him stiffly. "You've improved a lot this past moon. I was worried your mind wouldn't get back on your training fast enough to be ready for your assessment."

"Does that mean it's going to be soon?"

Stormfur padded up next to them. "I wouldn't be surprised." He meowed. "You were great out there, Lionpaw."

Brook nodded. "I don't think I would have been able to get that squirrel. You did very well."

Ashfur snorted. "We'll see."

Lionpaw blinked at his mentor. It had been a good hunting patrol. He, Ashfur, Stormfur, and Brook had caught nearly enough to feed the whole Clan and it was great to feel energetic again, a little faster, a little sharper than his Clanmates, as though StarClan guided his paws. But he couldn't help but wish he had been chosen to go to Windclan like his siblings.

Stormfur tossed a wet blackbird onto the pile. "Something's wrong." The gray warrior glanced anxiously around the clearing. Beside him, Brook narrowed her eyes. Cinderpaw was tugging twigs toward the thorn barrier where Poppyfrost was stuffing them into gaps. Dustpelt and Brackenfur were hurriedly patching the nursery with fresh brambles. Their rain-soaked pelts were spiked, their tails bushed out. Brambleclaw and Squirrelflight were circling the edge of the camp, staring up through the rain at the walls.

Brambleclaw flicked his tail toward a rift in the cliff face where the rocks jutted out. "We should reinforce the top there. It's too easy for cats to climb down."

Squirrelflight seemed to disagree. "Do you really think that's a priority right now? The walls will be slick enough with the rain."

"Exactly why we need to make sure they don't have any other ways to get into camp."

Lionpaw's belly tightened. He scanned the clearing. Had his siblings already returned from their mission?

He felt relief wash his pelt as he saw Jaypaw emerge from the medicine den . Leafpool was calling to him from the medicine den entrance. "We'll need more cobwebs. It would be nice to get some comfrey root as well."

"I'll find some," Jaypaw answered at once.

"Not by yourself," Leafpool meowed.

Jaypaw nodded. "I'll take Hollypaw with me." Lionpaw's paws throbbed with unease. His brother normally bristled with rage at any suggestion that he couldn't manage by himself. Now he accepted it without a murmur. And why wasn't Leafpool helping Daisy? He thought that was the only reason she didn't go to Windclan in Jaypaw's place.

"Don't go far from camp," Leafpool warned.

"Lionpaw! Have you heard?" Honeyfern was charging toward him, her eyes stretched wide. "There's going to be a battle!"

Lionpaw hurried to meet her. "When?"

"WindClan is getting ready to attack us right now," Honeyfern panted.

Lionpaw flattened his ears, panic rising in him. "I thought Firestar sent the patrol to lessen the tension?"

Honeyfern shook her head. "He thinks we stole Windclan's kits," she mewed. "And some apprentices too. WindClan is going to try to get them back. We have to be ready to fight!"

"But it doesn't make sense." Lionpaw's mind was whirling.

"Who cares if it makes sense?" Honeyfern trotted around him. "Onestar is convinced it's the truth. There's going to be a huge battle anyway. Leafpool said so."