Dawn

Chapter 21

A bitter wind blew down from the mountains as the Clans joined the trail that led into the towering peaks. Heavy clouds blanketed the sky, and Crowpaw could tell by their yellow tinge that it would soon start snowing.

Brambletuft and Stormfur were leading them along the side of a steep valley. It was as different from the old territories as any cat could imagine, and Crowpaw knew every other cat was thinking that. There were only a few trees, gnarled and stunted, clinging to the smooth gray stone, with nowhere they'd expect prey might live. Moons of desperate hunger had left the WindClan cats' fur thin and useless against the chill, but they plodded grimly on with their heads down. Tallstar looked as brittle as a leaf, often leaning on Onewhisker, who rarely strayed from his side. ShadowClan looked little better, their eyes weary and their pace slow, and RiverClan appeared shabby, their gleaming coats nothing but a memory, half-forgotten, like the days when every cat had enough to eat.

One of Tallpoppy's kits gazed up at the crags with eyes as wide as an owl's. "Are we really going up there?"

"Yes," Tallpoppy answered bleakly.

Morningflower paused, then stiffly lifted one paw and grazed her tongue across its pad.

Crowpaw hurried to her side with Leafpaw. "Are you all right?" the ThunderClan medicine cat apprentice asked. Blood welled between Morningflower's claws. Leafpaw turned toward the front of the line, where Squirrelpaw and Brambletuft padded side by side. "Squirrelpaw!"

Squirrelpaw turned at once.

"Can we stop? I need to dress Morningflower's paw."

"I'll tell Skystar," came the reply.

"Is there anything you need?" Brambletuft meowed.

"Cobweb and comfrey, if possible." Crowpaw looked around the terrain. They'd never had to look for any herbs here, and he wasn't sure what they could even find.

Brackenfur, in the middle of the stream of cats, lifted his head. "We'll find some," he promised. He murmured something to the cats around him. Mews rippled through the throng, and warriors of all Clans began to range out and search among the rocks.

Leafpaw examined Morningflower's paw. "You've kept it clean," she mewed. "But if you go on softening it with your tongue, it'll never toughen."

Barkface pushed his way forward to join them. "What's wrong?"

"It's just raw from walking," Morningflower muttered.

"Will this do?" Russetfur came over and spat a mouthful of leaves onto the ground.

Leafpaw sniffed them cautiously. Crowpaw had never seen that kind of herb before during the few times he had to visit Barkface's den. Would unknown herbs really help? He watched Leafpaw carefully take a leaf into her mouth and slowly bite into it. She scrunched her face a little bit at the taste, but seemed to recognize something because her amber eyes brightened. "It might do." She glanced at Barkface. "Should we try it?"

Barkface sniffed a leaf. "It looks a little like something we used on the moor."

"You may as well try," Morningflower offered. "If it works, you can use it on others. I'll let you know soon enough if it hurts too much."

Leafpaw chewed the leaf and washed its green juice into Morningflower's paw.

The old cat winced and Leafpaw drew back. "It's okay," Morningflower grunted. "Just a sting. Carry on."

Mothwing bounded up, one forepaw swathed in sticky, white web.

"Great, thanks!" Carefully, Leafpaw teased the web from her outstretched paw and wrapped as much as she could around Morningflower's swollen pad. "Let me know if it starts to throb."