“You’re still here?” she spat.
“We’re more welcome here than you are!” puffed Barley, slamming into her flank.
The she-cat sprang away and launched herself at them, claws out. Ravenpaw folded his legs and ducked out of the way; as the she-cat skidded past, he reared up and brought his front paws down on her haunches. She dropped to the ground with a snarl, then gathered her hind legs and kicked straight back into Ravenpaw’s exposed belly.
A white-hot pain seared through him. He was aware of Barley charging at the kittypet, raking his claws down her back and sending her shrieking across the grass. Ravenpaw fell backward and lay still, panting, waiting for the spasm to ease. He heard Barley thudding after the kittypet. The ground thrummed with the sound of fleeing paws, the kittypets being chased away by gleeful, hissing warriors.
Gradually silence fell over the plain. Cats came padding back, a few of them limping. Ravenpaw heard a cheer: “We won! They’re gone!”
The warriors started to move more quickly, running back to the gorge, to the camp they had kept safe, in order to celebrate.
Barley’s face loomed over Ravenpaw. “Are you all right?
Have you been injured?”
Ravenpaw shook his head and heaved himself up. Barley started to fuss, but Ravenpaw shot him a glare. There would be time for that later; now he wanted to share in SkyClan’s victory. He stumbled back down to the gorge, leaning heavily on Barley’s shoulder. Leafstar was standing on top of the rock, her cream patches of fur glowing in the moonlight.
“Ravenpaw, there you are!” she called. “SkyClan thanks you for helping us tonight! Without you, those kittypets might never have respected our borders.”
The cats around the rock turned to look at Ravenpaw, their eyes gleaming like tiny stars, and yowled in triumph.
Ravenpaw closed his eyes in relief. We did it!
There was a stir beside him, and Riley and Bella appeared from the throng. Their pelts were ruffled, and Bella had a claw mark on one ear, but they were quivering with excitement.
“Oh, wow!” Riley gasped. “That was amazing!”
“We did everything you showed us!” Bella mewed. “I did a front-paw blow that made a kittypet fall over!”
“Well done,” Ravenpaw purred, trying not to show his pain. “I’m so proud of you!”
“We both are,” Barley meowed.
“Riley, Bella, are you there?” Leafstar called from the rock. “I have something important to ask you.”
The young cats glanced at each other, then pushed their way to the front of the cats. “We’re here!” Bella mewed.
Leafstar beckoned to them with her tail. “Come, join me.”
Riley and Bella scrambled up the boulder and stood on top. Leafstar faced them. “You fought well tonight,” she praised. “As bravely as any of my Clanmates, in fact. I was wrong to think that I needed to know a cat from kithood before I could trust them. You have proved that you belong here.”
Bella let out a tiny squeak.
Leafstar dipped her head. “Riley, Bella, will you do
SkyClan the honor of joining us?”
Ravenpaw felt his heart flip over. Beside him, Barley purred so loudly his whiskers trembled.
The SkyClan leader nodded to two of her warriors.
“Tinycloud, Nettlesplash, will you be their mentors?”
“With pleasure,” meowed Tinycloud, a slight-framed white she-cat. Beside her, a sturdy brown tom nodded.
“Rileypaw, Bellapaw, StarClan welcomes you to SkyClan as apprentices.” Leafstar began the ceremony, and Ravenpaw was plunged back to the clearing at the bottom of the ravine, listening to Bluestar announce his apprentice name for the first time.
“You need to rest,” Barley whispered in his ear. Without arguing, Ravenpaw allowed his friend to usher him along the path that led to Echosong’s den. His head was buzzing, but he could hear the SkyClan cats cheering, “Rileypaw!
Bellapaw!” behind him.
A pale silver shape met them on the path. Silverstream?
Ravenpaw wondered blurrily.
“Ah, Ravenpaw,” murmured Echosong. “Come with me.”
She turned to go into her den, but Ravenpaw hesitated.
“Not inside, please,” he rasped. “I’d rather be under the trees.”
Echosong nodded, and she nudged him gently around until they were padding toward the woods.
“Wait!” Barley mewed, trotting alongside. “He’s very sick! Shouldn’t you take him to your den and treat him?”
“It is too late for that, Barley,” Echosong murmured. “We must do what Ravenpaw wishes now.”
They reached the rustling trees, and Ravenpaw sank down onto a patch of soft, cool grass. He felt shadows gathering around him, tugging at his limbs. He wasn’t afraid; he knew it was time. Rileypaw and Bellapaw would live as warriors now, thanks to him. But Barley…
His old friend curled around him, just as he had always done when they slept. Ravenpaw could feel him trembling, and he wished there were something he could do to comfort him.
“It’s all right,” Barley whispered, his voice breaking. “I know you have to leave me. I will never forget you, I promise.”
Ravenpaw gasped for one more breath. “I will wait for you. Wherever you are, I will find you.” He let his head fall onto Barley’s front paw. Everything was starting to feel very far away.
Somewhere in the distance, he heard cats approaching.
“We will give him a warrior’s farewell,” Leafstar meowed.
“He may be far from home, but SkyClan will be honored to sit vigil for him.”
There was a gulp from Barley.
I’m sorry, my friend, Ravenpaw thought. He let the shadows fill his mind. Around him, the trees shimmered with starlight, and his legs felt young and strong again. The pain in his belly had gone. Ravenpaw stood up and looked down at Barley. I will always watch over you, he vowed. Then he turned and walked into the woods. His heart cried out to stay with his friend, but he knew he had to keep walking.
The shadows closed around him, but somewhere ahead there was warm sunshine creeping through the trees, and the scent of prey.
Farewell, Barley. I will see you again one day.