Warriors: Power Of Three 4 - Eclipse (30 page)

“About time, too!” Sandstorm chided. “I was about to come in and drag you out by your tail.”

Icepaw trotted out after her brother. “Sorry,” she apologized. “I kept him awake last night. We were trying to stay up till you got back from the Gathering.”

Sandstorm glanced at Firestar. “You’ll hear about it soon enough.”

Lionpaw padded beneath Highledge as the Clan gathered.

Dustpelt shook sleep from his whiskers, while Thornclaw sat beside him and picked moss from his pelt. Squirrelflight had padded to the edge of the clearing. From the stern looks Leafpool was flashing at her, she was meant to be in her nest.

Hollypaw slid in beside Lionpaw. “What do you think he’s going to tell them?” she whispered.

Lionpaw guessed she was talking about the Gathering.

How would Firestar break the news of Blackstar’s revelation to his Clan?

Jaypaw weaved his way among his Clanmates and sat down beside Lionpaw. “I hope you slept better than me.”

Lionpaw stared at his paws, feeling hot, as Heatherpaw’s motionless body flashed behind his eyes.

“The Gathering was not what we expected.” Firestar’s mew jolted him out of the hateful vision. “ShadowClan didn’t come.”

Mews of shock erupted through the Clan.

Brightheart pricked her ears. “What was wrong with them?”

“Is there sickness in ShadowClan?” Cloudtail called.

Firestar ignored the questions and pressed on. “Blackstar came with the loner, Sol, and told us that ShadowClan are turning their backs on StarClan.”

Mousewhisker looked puzzled. “What do you mean?”

Firestar stared down at the young warrior. “ShadowClan no longer believe that StarClan hold all the answers. They have lost faith in their warrior ancestors and will not be attending any more Gatherings.”

He raised his voice over the murmurs of alarm speeding through the Clan. “The loner Sol appears to be encouraging this belief. But I hope StarClan will have a greater influence over ShadowClan in the end. I believe they will speak through Littlecloud and to Blackstar himself. StarClan have never let us down before. Perhaps they let Blackstar stray for a reason.

But I’m sure they will bring him back to the Clans. All will be well. Remember how the sun disappeared? But then it came back again, as warm as ever. This darkness will pass too, I’m sure.”

As the Clan stared up at their leader, Lionpaw remembered Sol’s words: The light will return, just like the sun came back, but it will be your light, and yours to control.

His blood-soaked dream lingered in his mind. Was he ready for such power? Did he even deserve it?

He doesn’t believe what he’s saying.

Jaypaw lifted his muzzle toward Firestar. He’s not sure at all that this darkness will pass.

He felt Lionpaw tense beside him, uncertainty prickling beneath his brother’s pelt. Hollypaw’s tail whisked the ground.

“Can’t we get rid of Sol?” Dustpelt called.

“Blackstar has to make his own choices,” Firestar answered.

“Even if it affects all the Clans?” Sandstorm demanded.

“We shall go on as usual,” Firestar declared. “We shall hunt and take care of our kits and our elders. We shall patrol our borders the same way we did in the forest. The same way we have done here. Whatever change comes, we will listen to StarClan and use the warrior code as our guide.”

Hollypaw let out a slow breath. “The warrior code,” she murmured. “The warrior code.” She repeated it as though it were the answer to everything.

Jaypaw envied his sister’s faith. And her ignorance. She didn’t realize that Firestar was taking as much comfort from his words as his Clanmates.

He has to believe things are going to be all right, for the sake of the Clan.

Firestar shifted on his paws. “I have good news to share today as well as bad.”

Jaypaw looked up, surprised. What good news?

“ThunderClan is still strong. We have proved ourselves in battle, and we know that StarClan still watch over us.” His tail brushed the ledge. “There are three new warriors to be named.”

Jaypaw flinched as excitement blazed from Lionpaw and Hollypaw. It was like sitting between two suns.

“Lionpaw, Hollypaw, and Cinderpaw.”

Pebbles cracked as Firestar bounded down the rocks and into the clearing, where the Clan were already making space for the naming ceremony.

Brackenfur darted over to Hollypaw and smoothed her fur with his tail. “Well done,” he purred.

Ashfur weaved past Lionpaw. “You’ll be a fine warrior.”

“I’ll make you proud of me,” Lionpaw promised.

Squirrelflight was shining with happiness. Leafpool sat beside her, a purr rumbling in her throat. She must be pleased for Cinderpaw, thought Jaypaw.

Cloudtail weaved around his apprentice. “I told you it wouldn’t be long before you joined your denmates, Cinderpaw.”

Jaypaw closed his eyes. It was a long time since he imagined he could be a warrior. But the dream had never left him. He let jealousy surge and ebb away. Then pride blossomed inside him. His littermates would be warriors!

“Congratulations,” he purred.

Hollypaw rubbed her muzzle against his cheek. “Thank you.”

Lionpaw flicked Jaypaw’s ear with his tail. “I hope Icepaw keeps her promise to Mousefur, because I’m not cleaning out the elders’ den anymore.”

Ashfur’s tail twitched. “If your Clanmates’ bedding needs changing, then you’ll change it.”

Brambleclaw padded toward them. “Does Lionpaw think that Firestar’s making him leader already?” he purred.

“I was just joking!” Lionpaw protested.

“Of course.” Brambleclaw circled his kits and stopped beside Jaypaw. “I’m proud of you all.”

Hazeltail and Berrynose came bouncing toward them.

“Well done!” Hazeltail mewed.

“I suppose we can make room for you in the warriors’ den,”

Berrynose teased.

“I’m glad I’m not in there anymore,” Mousefur called. “It’ll be noisier than a nest full of starlings.” The old warrior was sitting outside the nursery while Toadkit and Rosekit skittered around her. Warmth glowed from her pelt as Millie squeezed out of her den behind her. Jaypaw smelled the fresh scent of a kit dangling from the queen’s jaws.

She dropped Briarkit between Mousefur’s paws. “Will you watch this one while I fetch the other two?” Millie’s mew was husky, as if her throat was sore. Jaypaw reminded himself to fetch the last of the honey for her after the ceremony. “I thought they might want to see their first naming ceremony,”

Millie added.

“I’ll make sure Rosekit and Toadkit don’t trample him,”

Mousefur rasped.

“Hey!” Toadkit objected. “We’re not that clumsy. Anyone would think we were always . . .”

He fell silent as Firestar addressed the Clan from the middle of the clearing.

“I, Firestar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these three apprentices.” Lionpaw clawed at the ground as Firestar went on. “They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn.”

Hollypaw was already padding into the clearing, and Lionpaw hurried after her. Cinderpaw followed, her paw steps even and strong.

“ Hollypaw, Lionpaw, and Cinderpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your lives?”

“I do,” Hollypaw breathed, quivering.

Lionpaw stiffened with determination. “I do.”

“I do.” Cinderpaw sounded as relieved and excited as a cat that had just caught its first prey.

Jaypaw held his breath. They were closer than ever to their destiny.

“Then by the power of StarClan I give you your warrior names.” Firestar’s fur brushed Hollypaw’s. “Hollypaw, from this moment you shall be known as Hollyleaf.” He stepped back. “StarClan honors your thoughtfulness and loyalty.”

Lionpaw padded forward.

“Lionpaw, you shall be known as Lionblaze. StarClan honors your courage and skill in battle. And Cinderpaw.” Firestar paused as Cinderpaw approached him, trembling with excitement. “You shall be known as Cinderheart in honor of those warriors who have gone before.” Jaypaw detected sadness beneath his mew. Was he remembering Cinderpelt? If only he knew that her spirit stood before him, shining beneath Cinderheart’s pelt. “StarClan honors your bravery and your determination. You are a warrior at last.”

“Lionblaze! Hollyleaf! Cinderheart!” The Clan raised their voices defiantly as they welcomed the new warriors. Despite the vanishing sun and Blackstar’s devastating decision, ThunderClan would go on.

Jaypaw cheered with them, proud of his littermates and of Cinderheart, who had fought so hard to become a warrior.

Cinderpelt’s destiny had been fulfilled.

But what about our destiny?

Jaypaw shivered. Defiance against the vanishing sun was not enough. He knew better than his Clanmates what its disappearance had meant. The time of the Clans was coming to an end, and he, Lionblaze, and Hollyleaf were the only ones who could save them.

ERIN HUNTER

is inspired by a love of cats and a fascination with the ferocity of the natural world. As well as having great respect for nature in all its forms, Erin enjoys creating rich mythical explana-tions for animal behavior, shaped by her interest in astrology and standing stones. She is also the author of the Seekers series.

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