Warriors: Power Of Three 4 - Eclipse (5 page)

“I mean I could catch anything I want,” Foxpaw back-tracked quickly. “If only Squirrelflight would stop fussing over me all the time.”

“She might stop fussing if you stopped wandering off,”

Honeypaw pointed out. “We had to wait for ages while she went to look for you today. The squirrel I’d been tracking was in ShadowClan territory by the time she brought you back!”

“I was exploring!” Foxpaw protested.

“Well, come explore this.” Cinderpaw had squeezed into the den. Lionpaw could smell honey, but he stayed where he was while the other apprentices scrambled from their nests to see what Cinderpaw had brought.

“Where’d you find it?” Icepaw gasped.

“Cloudtail found a hive in a hollow trunk while we were patrolling near the abandoned Twolegplace,” Cinderpaw explained. “He managed to get his paw in and grab a chunk of the honeycomb.”

“Did he get stung?” Foxpaw mewed.

“Only once.”

“I haven’t had honey for moons.” Poppypaw sighed.

“Cloudtail gave most of it to Leafpool for her stores, but he said I could have this bit,” Cinderpaw mewed.

“Can I have a lick?” Icepaw begged.

“Go on then, but not too much,” Cinderpaw offered. “It’s for everyone to share.”

Icepaw closed her eyes as she swallowed, then blinked them open, surprised. “It doesn’t taste of anything!”

Poppypaw purred. “Every cat knows that, mouse-brain.”

She licked at the honeycomb and sighed. “I like the way it soothes my throat and feels all warm in my belly. It reminds me of milk.”

Lionpaw buried his nose under his paws, trying to block out the purrs of contentment as his denmates dug into the precious honeycomb. How easily pleased they were. One day all the honey in the forest would be his. He wasn’t like them—

pleased by any small treat. The pang of isolation returned, stronger than ever.

A warm body brushed against him. Hollypaw had crept into the den and was settling down beside him.

“Not joining in with the honey feast?” Lionpaw whispered.

“Let them enjoy it,” she whispered back.

Suddenly feeling less alone, Lionpaw closed his eyes and slipped into sleep.

Dreaming, Lionpaw felt the forest floor cold beneath his paws, prickly with pine needles. A thin mist cloaked the ground and swirled around the lines of straight, bare trunks that stretched away into darkness.

“It’s about time you came back to us,” Tigerstar’s low growl echoed from the shadows. Lionpaw saw the outline of massive shoulders as the warrior padded out from the trees.

Hawkfrost followed at his heels. “You need all the training we can give you.”

Lionpaw bristled. “But didn’t you see me fight in the mountains?” How much more training did he need? He was already a better fighter than any of his Clanmates. He had proved it!

“We’re not concerned with past battles,” Tigerstar meowed briskly. “Only the battles to come.”

Lionpaw narrowed his eyes. That sounded like an excuse.

They couldn’t see me in the mountains! Even Tigerstar’s powers had their limits.

“Let’s see if you can use your brains as well as your strength.”

Tigerstar padded behind Lionpaw and nudged him toward Hawkfrost. “Try attacking Hawkfrost from his weaker side.”

“But don’t you want to hear about the mountain cats?”

Tigerstar lashed his tail. “They’re no concern of mine.”

He’s not interested! Lionpaw stared at his ghostly mentor.

Didn’t he think Lionpaw could have learned something from going on the long journey and battling against different cats?

Did Tigerstar really believe he knew everything about fighting? Well, he certainly didn’t know everything about Lionpaw.

Maybe it was about time he did.

“What are you waiting for?” Tigerstar snapped. “Attack Hawkfrost!”

Anger surged in Lionpaw’s belly. He leaped for Hawkfrost and, unsheathing his claws, raked the striped warrior’s flank so fiercely he felt the skin burst and blood spatter his paw.

Yowling in fury, Hawkfrost jumped away from him, hackles raised.

Lionpaw swung around to face Tigerstar. “Will you listen to me now? I’ve got something important to tell you. There’s a prophecy! About me! That’s why I can fight the way I can.”

Tigerstar’s eyes flashed. “What do you mean, a prophecy?”

“An old cat told Firestar in a dream: ‘There will be three, kin of your kin, who will hold the power of the stars in their paws.’ ” Lionpaw recited the words just as Jaypaw had told him.

“Don’t you see? It must be about us, because Squirrelflight is Firestar’s kin.”

Tigerstar snorted in disgust. “Firestar!”

“But it’s true!” Lionpaw insisted. “If you’d seen me fight in the mountains you’d know. I defeated every cat who faced me. I felt like I could’ve fought forever and still defeated them all!”

“Only because I’ve trained you,” Tigerstar growled.

“It’s more than that!” Lionpaw argued. “I’ve got the power of the stars in my paws!”

“And Firestar told you this, did he?” Tigerstar sneered.

“No.” Lionpaw dug his claws into the cold earth. “Jaypaw walked in one of Firestar’s dreams. He overheard it.”

Tigerstar’s eyes suddenly glittered with amusement. “I see,”

he mocked. “A cat has a dream and that means you’re the most powerful creature who ever lived.”

Why wasn’t Tigerstar taking this seriously? Wasn’t he proud to have kin who might eventually rule the forest?

Wasn’t that what he wanted? Lionpaw felt a growl rising in his throat. Perhaps Tigerstar wanted that only for himself.

“Don’t laugh at me.”

Hawkfrost’s whiskers twitched. “Look at the little warrior!

Pretending he’s Firestar. All big and brave.”

“How do you explain the battle in the mountains, then?”

Lionpaw demanded. “I wasn’t even hurt!”

“You beat a bunch of half-starved, untrained rogues,”

Hawkfrost taunted him. “Wow. That’s a real sign of a great warrior!”

Lionpaw blinked. The ground suddenly felt colder under his paws. What if they were right? The mountain cats hadn’t exactly been a Clan of highly skilled warriors. The Tribe could have beaten them with any of the Clan cats’ help; they didn’t need the most powerful cat ever to win the battle. What if the prophecy was just a dream?

“Not so sure now, are you?” Tigerstar flicked his tail. “I know it must be nice to believe you’re the greatest warrior that ever lived, but would Firestar really have sent three such important cats to the mountains, where they might have been killed?”

Lionpaw’s belly fluttered with doubt. Firestar had never said anything about the prophecy. If he really believed they were special he wouldn’t have risked their lives. He would have kept them safe in camp, where they could take care of their Clan.

Tigerstar leaned forward, his breath stirring Lionpaw’s whiskers. “There’s only one path to power,” he hissed. “Training. Practice your battle skills, practice hard, and one day you may well be the most powerful cat in the forest.” He drew back, his voice hardening. “Now, repeat the battle move! But this time keep your claws sheathed. Unless I say otherwise!”

Jaypaw pul ed the sticky parcel of honeycomb onto the wide, flat leaf he had laid on the floor of the den. Already wrapped in dock leaves, the comb was still oozing honey. Fearing it would seep onto the other herbs stored in the rock cleft at the side of the den, Leafpool had found a wild rhubarb leaf and left Jaypaw to rewrap the honeycomb while she was out collecting catmint.

He folded over the sides of the leaf, hoping the gooey honey would hold them in place while he tied strips of bark around the wrap.

A squeal made him freeze. A kit was in pain. Pricking his ears, he recognized Toadkit’s wailing mew. He turned and dashed toward the den entrance just as Daisy raced in. He smelled fear on her pelt and felt the lash of a flailing paw as she hurried past him. She must be carrying Toadkit by the scruff.

“Put him by the pool,” he ordered.

“He was chasing a bee and jumped straight into the nettle patch,” Daisy panted after setting down Toadkit.

“Dumb bee!” Toadkit yowled.

Jaypaw felt a wave of relief. Nettle stings! From the fuss he was making Jaypaw thought Toadkit had been savaged by a fox.

“Firestar should get those nettles pulled up,” Daisy complained. “I knew they’d be trouble one day.”

“Nettles aren’t deadly.” Jaypaw began sniffing Toadkit. A small paw swiped him across the muzzle. The young kit was twisting and fidgeting, trying to lick at his stings at the same time as he rubbed his nose with his paw. “Sit still!”

“But it hurts!” Toadkit complained.

His kit-soft pelt would have been no defense against the nettles’ stinging barbs, and Jaypaw could feel heat pulsing from Toadkit’s nose and ears, where the exposed skin had already swollen.

“I’ll fetch some dock leaves,” Jaypaw told him.

Daisy was anxiously circling her kit, and, as he dashed toward the medicine store, Jaypaw tripped over her tail. He stumbled to a clumsy halt at the store entrance and reached into the crack in the rock. Grabbing a pawful of dock leaves from where he knew they were stored beside the mallow, he gave them a quick sniff to make sure he had the right herb before chewing them into a pulp. The dock juice would work quickly on Toadkit’s injuries as long as it got a chance to sink into his fur.

Still chewing, he returned to the wriggling kit and spat the ointment onto his paw, ready to rub it onto the kit’s ears.

Instinctively, Toadkit shied away. “Don’t touch me!” He swiped at the pulp, sending it flying into the pool. Jaypaw heard it drop into the water with a plop. Seething with frustration, he turned back to the pile of dock leaves. “The quicker I treat it, the sooner it’ll stop hurting.” He collided with Daisy, still pacing around her kit. For StarClan’s sake! “Go check on Rosekit!” he snapped. “You don’t want her ending up in the nettles too. I’ll take care of Toadkit.” He flicked his tail.

“If he can sit still!”

“Are you sure he’ll be okay?” Daisy fretted.

Jaypaw took a deep breath. Staying calm is good for you and better for the patient. Leafpool’s words rang in his ears. “No cat has died of nettle stings yet,” he mewed through gritted teeth.

“Try to sit still, dear,” Daisy begged Toadkit as she padded out of the den. “I’ll be back to check on you as soon as I know Rosekit’s okay.”

“Don’t hurry!” Jaypaw muttered under his breath. He crouched to chew another mouthful of dock, then hurried back to Toadkit and began to lick the pulp onto his ears.

Toadkit tried to duck away, but Jaypaw pressed his shoulders to the ground with his forepaws.

“Hold still,” he mumbled between licks. Toadkit yowled, but Jaypaw continued until they were coated with bitter juice.

“I know it hurts,” he mewed, releasing the kit. “But you’re not in any danger. Stay there while I fetch some more for your nose.”

As Jaypaw turned away, he sensed anger flash in Toadkit’s mind. Fur brushed the medicine cat den floor. Toadkit was lunging for his tail!

Jaypaw spun around quickly. “Don’t you dare!”

Toadkit yelped in alarm as Jaypaw faced him, so close their whiskers were touching.

“H-how did you know what I was doing?” Toadkit squeaked.

Jaypaw narrowed his eyes. “I’m not as blind as you think.”

Toadkit backed away. “I’m sorry.”

“Now are you going to sit still?” Jaypaw demanded.

“Yes,” Toadkit murmured.

Feeling a pang of guilt for frightening the kit, Jaypaw fetched another mouthful of pulp. This time he dropped it in front of Toadkit. “Spread this on your pads, then rub it into your nose and over your mouth,” he ordered.

Jerkily, Toadkit smeared the pulp onto his stings. Jaypaw sensed his pain ease. The dock juice was working. Relieved, he fetched more pulp and helped Toadkit to rub it over his pelt until, between them, they had coated every sting. I’l give Daisy a poppy seed when she gets back. She can give it to Toadkit before bedtime so he’ll sleep through the itching.

Brambles rustled. Jaypaw scented the air. Leafpool had returned, and she was carrying catmint.

“Daisy told me you’ve been stung.” Leafpool dropped her bundle and padded over to Toadkit.

Jaypaw heard her sniffing as she checked him over. “Good job, Jaypaw,” she pronounced. “Just the right amount of dock.”

Jaypaw wondered whether to tell her what a difficult patient Toadkit had been.

“You should give him a small poppy seed,” Leafpool advised, “just to make sure the stings don’t keep him awake tonight.

They’ll be sore and itchy for a while.”

Thanks for the advice! Jaypaw bit back his reply. He was going to have to get used to listening to lessons he didn’t need; unlike Hollypaw and Lionpaw, he would be treated as an apprentice for many moons yet. As a medicine cat, he would still be expected to learn from his mentor and follow her orders even after he was given his Clan name. He might as well get used to it.

“Thanks, Jaypaw.” Toadkit’s grateful mew took him by surprise. “Sorry I was such a mouse-brain.”

Jaypaw felt a flood of sympathy for the young kit. “You were scared and hurt.”

“I’m fine now, thanks to you.” Toadkit began to head toward the entrance.

“Aren’t you going to wait for Daisy to fetch you?” Jaypaw called.

Toadkit paused. “I think I can find my way back to the nursery.”

Cheeky furball! Jaypaw felt a flicker of pride. Toadkit had been hard work, but Jaypaw had managed to earn his respect.

As the brambles swished shut behind the young kit, Jaypaw began clearing up the unused pulp. “I’ll take the poppy seed over to the nursery before bedtime,” he promised Leafpool before she could remind him.

But Leafpool seemed busy with her own thoughts. Jaypaw paused from his clearing up. She’s worried. Her mind, though closed to him, seemed to prickle with uneasy energy, like lightning on the horizon. As she padded to where Jaypaw had left the half-wrapped packet of honey, her steps were heavy, as though weariness weighted her paws. She must’ve worked twice as hard while I was away. He quickly scraped up the last of the pulp and, flicking it into the corner of the den, hurried to help his mentor.