Cedarpelt slid from the dirtplace tunnel. “Is he still our Clanmate?” His brown-striped tail snaked behind him and he narrowed his gaze.
Shellheart’s hackles lifted. “Of course he is!”
“Where has he been?” Beetlepaw called.
“He smells like heather.” Lakeshine sniffed. “Perhaps he was seeing what life was like in another Clan.”
Crookedkit glanced at Fallowtail. Had she reported that she’d scented a RiverClan cat on WindClan territory? She was staring at her paws.
“I’d never join another Clan.” Crookedkit puffed out his chest. “I’m RiverClan.”
Hailstar padded around him, his gaze sweeping the Clan. “He was born in RiverClan and that’s where he belongs.”
Cedarpelt exchanged a look with Rippleclaw. “How can we trust him not to leave anytime life gets tough?” he challenged Hailstar.
“Yeah!” Beetlepaw scowled. “While he’s been away getting fat, some of us have been busy training.”
“I’ll start my training whenever you like!” Crookedkit looked hopefully up at Hailstar.
Before the RiverClan leader could answer, Brambleberry hurried from the medicine den. She stopped beside Crookedkit and sniffed along his flank. “Are you okay?” she asked anxiously. “You look okay.”
“I’m fine,” Crookedkit told her.
A purr rumbled in her throat. “Thank StarClan you’re home safely.”
Hailstar narrowed his eyes. “Where have you been?”
“I went looking for the Moonstone,” Crookedkit told him.
“The Moonstone!” Shellheart gasped. “That’s so far away!”
Paw steps scuffed the clearing behind them. “He was always too adventurous for his own good.” Rainflower’s mew made Crookedkit shiver. He turned and faced his mother, trying to read her expression. Her tail-tip was flicking. Was she pleased to see him or sorry he’d come back? Her eyes reflected his gaze, giving nothing away.
Crookedkit turned back to Hailstar. “I went to ask StarClan if it was my destiny to be a kit forever.”
Hailstar narrowed his amber eyes. “And what did StarClan say?”
“I never reached the Moonstone,” Crookedkit confessed. “But I found my answer.” He raised his chin. “My destiny is to be a RiverClan warrior no matter how long I have to wait.”
Brambleberry frowned. “How did you find your answer if you didn’t reach the Moonstone?” she asked. “Did StarClan visit you?”
Crookedkit hesitated. Should he tell Hailstar about Mapleshade? But he had disobeyed her when she told him to return to RiverClan. He shook his head. “I helped a loner save her kits and I realized I should be helping my Clan.” He turned back to Hailstar. “I’m sorry I ran away. It was dumb and I won’t ever run away again. I want to be the best warrior in RiverClan.”
Hailstar’s eyes flashed. “Better than Shellheart?”
Crookedkit glanced at his father. Shellheart’s gaze didn’t waver. “One day.”
The RiverClan leader dipped his head. “Good. RiverClan will always need strong warriors.”
“Welcome back, Crookedkit!” Petalpaw rushed to congratulate him. Echomist, Birdsong, and Tanglewhisker weaved around him, purring. Crookedkit breathed in their warmth.
“Can I welcome back my kit?” Rainflower was waiting behind Birdsong. The elder scuttled out of the way. “Welcome home.” The pale gray she-cat touched her muzzle lightly to Crookedkit’s head. “I’m glad you’re safe.”
Crookedkit swallowed. “Th-thank you.” His gaze reached for hers but she’d turned and was padding toward the sedge entrance tunnel.
“Can I join your patrol?” she called to Rippleclaw.
“Of course.” Rippleclaw signaled to Echomist and Mudfur with his tail. “We should be checking the borders by now.” He flashed an accusing look at Crookedkit.
“I can’t believe you went all the way to the Moonstone by yourself,” Petalpaw purred.
“Not all the way,” Crookedkit corrected.
“I bet you didn’t even make it to WindClan territory,” Beetlepaw scoffed.
Volepaw plucked at the ground. “How far did you get?”
Rippleclaw paused at the entrance. “Petalpaw, Volepaw, come with us. Mudfur wanted to assess your hunting today. We might as well do it now.”
Ottersplash crossed the clearing and nosed Beetlepaw. “Come on,” she meowed. “We’re practicing hunting in the beech copse. The earlier we get there the more prey there’ll be.”
“Can Oakpaw come, too?” Beetlepaw’s eyes flashed. “I always learn more when there’s someone to compete with.”
“You can compete with your littermates,” Ottersplash told him.
“They’re easy to beat.”
“That’s not true!” Volepaw snapped.
Crookedkit watched his former denmates follow their mentors out of camp, then turned to Oakpaw. “Do you have to train, too?” He glanced at Shellheart.
“With leaf-fall coming, we can’t waste time,” Shellheart meowed gently. “You can tell us about your adventures tonight.”
Crookedkit nodded. He’d caused the Clan enough disruption for one day. “Okay,” he mewed. “I’ll see you later.”
“Why don’t you clean out the elders’ nests?” Shellheart suggested as he padded away with Oakpaw.
Tanglewhisker rubbed a grizzled paw over his ragged ear. “They could do with new moss. The old stuff is full of fleas.”
Crookedkit stifled a sigh. He’d learned so much and traveled farther than any apprentice, but he had to stay in camp and clean out nests. Suddenly becoming a warrior seemed a long way off.
Crookedkit woke into a dream. Mist shrouded the earth and trees rose around him with smooth gray trunks that disappeared into darkness above. Mapleshade slid out from behind a trunk, mist swirling around her paws. “So they took you back.”
“Of course.” Crookedkit swished his tail. “I’m a RiverClan cat.”
“I was worried you’d forgotten.”
Crookedkit narrowed his eyes. “I came back,” he growled. “You don’t have to go on about it.”
Mapleshade sat down. “You’ve got guts,” she muttered. “I’ll give you that.”
“What do you want with me?” Crookedkit wondered why she was back in his dreams. He’d come home. What more did she need?
“I want to help you fulfill your destiny.” Mapleshade padded closer. Her tail slid across Crookedkit’s flank.
Crookedkit fidgeted with impatience. “What is my destiny?”
“If you obey me and train hard, one day you will lead your Clan.”
“I’ll be leader?” Crookedkit couldn’t believe his ears. “But I’m not even an apprentice yet!”
Mapleshade sat down. “Were you hoping that Hailstar would be so impressed by your adventure he’d make you an apprentice right away?”
Crookedkit flinched. She was close to the truth. “I can hunt,” he insisted, straightening up. “And I’m big enough.”
“Hailstar can’t reward disobedience,” Mapleshade pointed out. “He’ll make you an apprentice soon.”
“It’s dumb not to train me,” Crookedkit complained. “I could be much more use to my Clan if I was trained.”
Mapleshade’s green eyes flashed in the half-light. “I could train you,” she offered. “But you’d have to keep it a secret.”
Crookedkit leaned forward. “Could you?”
“It’s been a while since I’ve had an apprentice.”
“If you make me your apprentice I’ll work hard, I’ll do anything you tell me.” Crookedkit paced around Mapleshade. “I’ll meet you every night and you can show me how to hunt and fight like a RiverClan warrior!” If he was going to be leader, he’d need to know every move. “Please make me your apprentice—like a proper ’paw!”