Dawn

Chapter 13

Squirrelpaw dropped the mouse onto the fresh-kill pile. After Cinderpelt had brought back several pieces of prey, most of the Clan had been fed more than they had in a long time, but now the pile had returned to its now normal meager size. Sorreltail had hunted with her, but had caught nothing.

"Take that straight to Speckletail," Skystar mewed, padding over to them.

"Not Ferncloud?" Squirrelpaw queried.

"Cinderpelt says it might be best that Ferncloud doesn't feed for a little while." Skystar sighed. "But Cody has been sharing food with Birchkit and Larchkit."

"That kittypet should go back to her Twolegs and stop eating our fresh-kill," Sorreltail commented irritably. "She's no good for hunting."

"Cody takes hardly anything for herself," Skystar pointed out. "And while she cares for Birchkit and Larchkit, the other cats have more time for hunting and Ferncloud can rest."

Squirrelpaw glanced sympathetically at Sorreltail. She probably resented Cody more for taking up Leafpaw's time than for being a kittypet. She picked up the mouse and carried it to where Speckletail was making the most of the frail warmth of sunhigh at the top of Sunningrocks.

Speckletail's eyes were closed, but she lifted her head when Squirrelpaw drew closer. "I smell mouse," she mewed.

"It's not very big, I'm afraid," Squirrelpaw apologized.

"It's fine," Speckletail shrugged. She prodded the mouse with her paw, the tip of her tail twitching as if she was remembering the days where she too went out hunting for the Clan.

Suddenly she lifted her head and opened her mouth to scent the air. "WindClan!" she exclaimed, more in surprise than alarm.

"What, here?" mewed Squirrelpaw, looking around. She didn't think her mother was expecting visitors, but Squirrelpaw found herself hoping Crowpaw was among them.

At the foot of the rock, Tallstar was leading a small, bedraggled patrol out of the woods. The ThunderClan cats watched them climb slowly up to where Skystar waited. No cat challenged them. Tallstar's step was faltering, his frame so emaciated that Squirrelpaw was amazed he had made it all the way here. The two warriors that accompanied him were in no better condition; Eagleheart and Ashfoot were so thin they looked like they were made of twigs and leaves, and Squirrelpaw half feared the breeze might blow them away.

Crowpaw was at the rear of the patrol, looking thinner than he had on the journey to the sun- drown place, though he was not quite as scrawny as his Clanmates. Squirrelpaw bounded down the slope to touch noses with him in greeting. When she got closer, she saw that his eyes were as dull as his Clanmates', and his fur was ungroomed.

"Crowpaw!" she exclaimed. "Are you okay?"

"I'm about as fit as the rest of my Clan," Crowpaw told her tiredly.

Ashfoot blinked at her. "Crowpaw has been hunting like a whole patrol on his own, finding prey to feed nearly all the Clan," she reported.

Squirrelpaw pricked her ears.

"He even caught a hawk two sunrises ago," Ashfoot went on. Even though starvation seemed to have robbed the WindClan warrior of all emotion, Squirrelpaw could detect the pride in Ashfoot's voice.

Crowpaw shrugged. "I used a trick the Tribe taught us."

"Crowpaw!" Brambletuft came bounding down the rock. Squirrelpaw saw his eyes darken, and she guessed he was just as shocked as she had been to find their friend so gaunt and lifeless.

Tallstar's voice distracted her. "Skystar, we have come to plead for ThunderClan's help," he rasped. As if the effort of speaking were too much, his legs buckled and he collapsed onto his side. Squirrelpaw started to go over to help him, but Crowpaw wrapped his tail slightly around hers and shook his head.