“I don’t think it’s Violet’s decision to make,” Ravenpaw meowed.
“Good luck changing her mind,” Barley grunted. “Look, I like those youngsters as much as you do. But they’re not forestborn; they’re kittypets. It’s not fair to encourage them in these crazy ideas.”
“It’s not a crazy idea.”
Barley stood up and narrowed his eyes. “It’s far too dangerous. Riley and Bella know nothing about surviving outside their Twoleg den. And your shoulder has only just healed!”
“My shoulder is fine,” Ravenpaw hissed.
“But I thought you were happy here,” Barley whispered.
The hurt in his old friend’s eyes was too much for Ravenpaw to bear. He looked away. “I am happy. I have been since the moment I first arrived. But by taking me in, you gave me the chance to make a choice, don’t you see? Riley and Bella want to choose their own paths, too. I am the only cat who can help them. I… I hoped you’d come with us.”
Barley walked to the edge of the woodpile. “I think you’re a fool,” he growled. “You’re putting all three of you in danger because of some stupid kits’ dreams. I won’t come with you, and I don’t want to hear another word about it.”
He jumped down into the long grass, leaving Ravenpaw staring after him in dismay.
“We’re going to be warriors!” Bella squeaked. “Thank you, Ravenpaw!” She flung herself at him, almost knocking him off the wooden platform. Riley bounced on his paws, purring loudly.
Behind them, Violet’s eyes were wide with horror. “What do you mean, you know of a Clan that will take them? I thought you didn’t know where the Clans had gone.”
“This is a different Clan,” Ravenpaw explained. “One that’s much closer, and friendlier to kittypets.” His pelt burned under the force of Violet’s gaze. “It will be up to SkyClan to decide if they want to train Riley and Bella as warriors. If they don’t, then I’ll bring them home again.”
It sounded so simple, but Ravenpaw couldn’t help wondering if Barley was right and his brain had turned to fluff. He winced when he thought of his old friend. They had hardly spoken since their quarrel on the woodpile, and at night Barley had even made a separate nest to sleep in.
Ravenpaw hadn’t imagined he could feel so much pain without being physically wounded.
He dragged his thoughts back to Violet. He had to convince her that this was the best thing for her kits.
Silverstream would never have visited him if she didn’t believe it, too.
“You and Barley have lived in the wild,” Ravenpaw reminded her. “There is a part of you that knows what it is to be free, to hunt for yourself, to find your own shelter. Why shouldn’t Bella and Riley know that too?”
“Because I want to keep them safe!”
“Wait!” Ravenpaw and Violet turned to see Bella staring at them, her green eyes huge. “Riley and I will never be happy as kittypets. You know that. Please, let us go.”
Riley nodded. “It’s what we want.”
Violet’s tail drooped. “Oh, my precious kits,” she murmured. She rested her chin on Bella’s head and met Ravenpaw’s gaze. “You’re right. I chose to be a kittypet having known the alternative. How can I deny the same choice to my kits?”
“You mean we can go?” Bella gasped.
Violet nodded. “I will think of you every day, my loves.
Be the best warriors you can. And if you ever come by this way again, please remember me.”
“We’ll never forget you!” Bella’s voice trembled. “You’re the best mother a cat could ever have! I… I don’t want to go if I’ll never see you again.”
Violet stepped back. “Courage, little one!” Ravenpaw saw the sadness in her eyes and marveled at how strong her voice sounded. “Partings are always hard, but endings are just the start of something else!” She looked at Ravenpaw.
“I’m not a fool. I have seen how they hunt and play fight. I know that, with training, they could be great warriors. But please, until then, keep them safe.”
“I will,” Ravenpaw promised. He curled his tail at Riley and Bella. “Come on. We have a long journey ahead of us.”
He jumped down onto the short green grass. Bella followed, but Riley paused, looking back at his mother. “I will think of you every day,” he meowed.
“And I of you,” Violet replied. Her eyes were liquid with sadness. “Go well, my darlings. Make me proud.”
“We will!” Bella called.
They trotted across the grass and squeezed through the hole in the fence. A gust of wind struck their faces on the other side, flattening their fur and filling their muzzles with the scent of monsters, trees, and distant hills. For a moment
Ravenpaw was tempted to push the kits back through the hole. What was he doing, taking them on a journey to an unknown Clan?
Then Riley raced ahead, shouting, “We’re going to be warriors!” Bella sprinted after him, and Ravenpaw followed.
These young cats had chosen their destiny, and he had promised Silverstream he’d help them.
Chapter Five
“You’re really not coming with us?” Ravenpaw spoke quietly so that he wouldn’t disturb Riley and Bella, who were still sleeping. Tendrils of dawn light pierced the walls of the barn, and the air was already warm.
Barley shook his head. “We’ve been over this already,” he mewed. “I think you’re making a massive mistake.”
“And I thought you trusted me!” Ravenpaw retorted.
“I’ll come straight back, as soon as I’ve delivered Riley and Bella to SkyClan. Firestar and Sandstorm made this journey safely. There’s no reason I won’t, too.”
“They were warriors,” Barley hissed. He sounded angry, but Ravenpaw could hear the pain beneath his words. “Is that what this is all about? You want to prove that you’re as good as a Clan cat, even though you were only ever an apprentice?”
Ravenpaw flinched. “What are you talking about?”
“I don’t believe you’re doing this for Riley and Bella. I think you’re doing it for yourself, because you want to be in a Clan again.”
“You’re wrong!” Ravenpaw gasped.
“Am I? Ever since we went back to the forest, you haven’t stopped going on about what it was like when you lived there. I bet you wish you’d never left!”
Ravenpaw felt his shoulders sag. “You’re being ridiculous. Is this really how it’s going to end, Barley? With us at each other’s throats?”
“You’re the one who’s leaving,” Barley growled.
“Well, you’re making it easier!”
“Is it time to go?”
Both cats spun around. A small orange face was looking down at them from the top of the stack of hay. Bella was quickly joined by her brother, who had a wisp of dried grass stuck to one ear.
“We’re awake!” Riley announced. He bounced down the hay and landed beside Ravenpaw. “Should we hunt first?”
Barley twitched his ears. “No need,” he meowed gruffly.
“I caught extra for you last night.” He moved a pile of hay to reveal two mice and a young pigeon.
Ravenpaw blinked at him. “Thanks.”
“I didn’t do it for you. I did it for them.” Raising his voice, Barley added, “I’m going for a walk. If you’re not here when I get back, well, I hope you find what you’re looking for.”
Bella looked up, her cheeks bulging with pigeon. “Aren’t you going to see us off?” she mumbled.
“Ravenpaw knows the way out,” Barley replied. The tip of his tail twitched. “Don’t do anything stupid. Make your mother proud.” He stalked out of the barn with a final sideways glare at Ravenpaw.
“Eat as much as you want,” Ravenpaw told the young cats, forcing himself to sound cheerful. I can’t believe he didn’t say good-bye. “But not so much that it’s uncomfortable to walk. We have a long way to go”—the thought struck him yet again that he had no idea how long—“so we’ll be able to stop and hunt on the way.”