Hickorynose sat up in the bracken patch beside Woollytail. “What’s going on?”
Woollytail lifted his head. “Let’s find out.”
“I think I know!” Hickorynose jumped out of the bracken and hurried toward the nursery, where Meadowslip was already squeezing out.
She met Hickorynose’s gaze hopefully. “Is it what I think it is?”
He glanced past her. “I think so. Where are they?” As he spoke, Pigeonkit and Sorrelkit scrambled through the gorse.
“Is it time?” Pigeonkit blinked up at Heatherstar.
Hickorynose smoothed the fur tufting on his shoulder. “Yes, it is.”
Sorrelkit looked at the medicine den. “What about Hopkit?” she asked quietly. Hopkit had stopped playing and was staring wistfully up at Heatherstar on top of Tallrock.
“Your brother understands that he can’t be an apprentice like you,” Meadowslip told her briskly.
“I’ll teach him a few hunting tricks,” Hickorynose promised. “Just because he’s not an apprentice doesn’t mean he’ll be stuck in camp.”
Talltail flicked his tail with irritation as he overheard. Why had everyone given up on Hopkit so easily? He jumped into the Meeting Hollow and sat down, ears pricked as his Clanmates gathered around him. He’d show everyone that Hopkit would make a great warrior.
Heatherstar leaped down from Tallrock and padded to the middle of the hollow. “Sorrelkit, Pigeonkit!” she called.
Sorrelkit and Pigeonkit scrambled into the hollow and trotted over to the Clan leader.
“It’s been a hard leaf-bare, with too many losses.” Heatherstar dipped her head to Ryestalk, watching hollow-eyed from the nursery. “But today WindClan has new apprentices. Pigeonpaw.” She flicked her tail along the gray tom’s spine. “Your mentor will be Doespring.”
Doespring stepped forward looking proud and touched her nose to Pigeonpaw’s head. Pigeonpaw plucked excitedly at the ground.
“This is your first apprentice, but I have no doubt you will train him well. Share your spirit and speed with him,” Heatherstar instructed Doespring. The pale brown she-cat purred with delight.
The WindClan leader turned to Sorrelkit. “Sorrelpaw, your mentor will be Stagleap.”
Sorrelpaw’s eyes widened as the broad-shouldered tom padded forward to greet her. Her tail twitched nervously as he touched her head.
“Don’t worry, Sorrelpaw,” Stagleap whispered. “You’ll be a great apprentice. And I promise not to eat you.”
“May you learn boldness and loyalty from him.” Heatherstar’s eyes shone.
“I will!” Sorrelpaw promised.
Heatherstar lifted her head and looked at the medicine den. “Hopkit, come here.”
Hopkit stared back, eyes stretched wide. “Me?”
Heatherstar nodded. She caught Talltail’s eye and gave a tiny flick of her tail-tip, inviting him to join her. Talltail stepped onto the sand, his heart quickening with excitement. Hopkit limped down into the hollow and hobbled toward Heatherstar.
“Welcome. Your apprentice name will be Deadpaw,” Heatherstar announced.
“Deadpaw?” Meadowslip’s gasp rang over the hollow. “Heatherstar, no! You can’t name him because of what’s wrong with him!”
Deadpaw raised his chin. “It’s okay; I don’t mind! I’m going to be a warrior. My paw may be dead, but the rest of me is still alive!”
“Well done, Deadpaw!” Whiteberry rasped.
Hickorynose looked thoughtful. “A name like that could trick our enemies into thinking he can’t fight. You’ll show them, won’t you, Deadpaw?”
The little black tom nodded earnestly, and purrs of approval rippled around the Clan.
Heatherstar went on. “Your mentor will be Talltail.” She beckoned Talltail forward with a nod, but he was already hurrying across the sandy earth. “Share your sense of adventure and courage with him, Talltail.”
Deadpaw pushed up his head to meet Talltail’s muzzle. “I’m so glad it’s you!”
“Deadpaw!”
“Sorrelpaw!”
“Pigeonpaw!”
The Clan lifted their voices, calling the names of the new apprentices.
“I’ll teach you to be a great warrior,” Talltail whispered in Deadpaw’s ear. I’m a mentor! Only a few moons ago he’d been living a rogue’s life far beyond the borders of the Clan. Now he was helping to make WindClan strong. Deadpaw depended on him to learn how to hunt and fight. We’ll show them. Even on three paws, you’ll be able to outfight a ShadowClan warrior! Deadpaw’s purr rumbled beside him.
Talltail looked up, across the top of the heather and beyond the rolling green moor. I wish you could see this, Jake. His old friend would be proud to see how much he had changed. You always said I was a warrior. His heart swelled. Now I truly am.
Chapter 45
“Are you ready?” Barkface’s eyes glowed in starlight as he paused at the entrance to the tunnel. Mothermouth loomed ahead, gaping black in the silver cliff.
Talltail nodded. “I’m ready.”
The journey across the valley had been filled with memories. As he walked the same fields he’d walked so many moons before, Talltail had been swept back to the troubled curiosity of his youth. But now the boundaries that had once made him feel trapped and restless were his to protect and honor. If StarClan accepted him, he would be WindClan’s leader by dawn.
Grief wrenched at his heart with sharp claws. Heatherstar’s last moments had been cruel. Greencough had wracked her body, choking her savagely into an agonizing death.
“Talltail.” She had beckoned him closer as she lay in her nest, heat pulsing from her flanks, her pelt clumped and stinking. Swallowing back sorrow, Talltail had crouched over her.
“Have courage, Talltail,” Heatherstar had croaked. “You followed your heart once and it made you stronger. It forged a bond between you and WindClan that nothing can ever break.” A cough shook her body. She didn’t fight it, too weak to do anything but submit. As it released her, she dragged in a shuddering breath. “Always follow your heart, Talltail, as you did then. Let it guide you in everything you do.” Her chest rattled as she struggled to breathe. “WindClan is yours now.” With a rasp, she stiffened and fell still.
Barkface squeezed past Talltail and nudged Heatherstar gently with his muzzle, straightening her twisted body and curling her tail around her paws so that she looked as though she were comfortably asleep. “Mudclaw!” he called through the entrance. “Tell the Clan it’s time for them to sit in vigil for their leader.” He nosed Talltail to his paws and guided him from the den.
Outside, the dying sun streaked the grass red. A cold wind whistled across the heather. “We should go to the Moonstone so you can receive your lives,” Barkface told him.
Talltail nodded. He could feel strength seeping back into him as he watched his Clanmates padding slowly toward Heatherstar’s den. He was responsible for them now.
Onekit scampered behind Wrenflight. “Is she really dead?”
“Hush,” his mother scolded. “Show some respect.”
“But she’ll be in StarClan!” Onekit squeaked. He gazed up at the sky as stars began to show. “Do you think she’s watching us yet?”
“Come on, Talltail.” Barkface flicked his tail toward the camp entrance. “If we leave now, we’ll be back in time to join the vigil.”
Now, at Highstones, Talltail shivered—half with cold, half with fear—as Mothermouth yawned before him. All his life, it had seemed as if tunnels shaped his destiny. Now this one would guide him to becoming WindClan’s leader. He glanced at the sky, wondering if Sandgorse was watching. Or Palebird, who’d died moons before. Squaring his shoulders, he padded into the darkness. Barkface followed, his breath billowing in the cold before the shadows swallowed it. Talltail’s paws seemed to guide him without thinking, leading him along the twists and turns, as though the Moonstone drew him on.