“Oh, thank you!” Alderpaw responded, his relief at the thought of having his sister with him flooding over him.
Then he noticed that Bramblestar and Squirrelflight, up on the Highledge, were exchanging dubious glances. Cherryfall, who had followed her apprentice, shook her head sternly. “Bramblestar decides who will go,” she told Sparkpaw. “And he’s not likely to choose an apprentice for a quest like this.”
Shaken, Alderpaw gazed up at Bramblestar.
“Please,” he begged desperately, “can’t
Sparkpaw come?”
Bramblestar paused, clearly torn, while
Squirrelflight leaned closer to him and murmured something into his ear. She looked horrified at the thought of both their kits risking themselves on this quest.
The Clan leader and his deputy spoke together quietly for a few heartbeats. Then Bramblestar turned back to the cats in the clearing. “Very well,” he meowed. “Sparkpaw may go with you. And in that case,” he added, raising his voice to be heard above Sparkpaw’s squeals of triumph, “Cherryfall and Molewhisker will join the group as well.”
The two cats exchanged delighted glances.
“You leave at dawn tomorrow,” Bramblestar finished. “And may StarClan light your path.”
“Alderpaw! Come on! Wake up!”
Sparkpaw’s voice seemed to come from a long way away. Alderpaw opened his eyes, blinked blearily, and made out her face right next to his, her green eyes gleaming in the shadow of their den.
“Wake up!” she repeated, prodding him hard in the side. “It’s time to go. This is your quest, mouse-brain, and you’re still asleep.”
Alderpaw stretched his jaws into a massive yawn and staggered to his paws. He had lain awake for so long the night before, thinking about the quest, that it felt as if he had only been sleeping for a heartbeat.
Following Sparkpaw, he scrambled through the ferns that shaded the apprentices’ den and headed out into the clearing, holding his head and tail high to hide how nervous he felt.
The dawn air was damp and chilly, striking deep into Alderpaw’s fur. Above his head the sky was washed with the pale light of dawn, and a faint breeze was rustling the trees on top of the hollow.
It seemed to Alderpaw that the whole of ThunderClan was out in the clearing, most of them clustering around the medicine cats’ den.
Their excited murmurs sounded like the buzzing of a whole colony of bees.
Alderpaw and Sparkpaw pushed their way through the crowd to join Jayfeather and Leafpool outside their den. Cherryfall, Molewhisker, and Sandstorm were already waiting there, and Leafpool was distributing small leaf wraps of herbs to them.
“There you are!” Jayfeather mewed to the two apprentices. Alderpaw had expected to be scolded for being late, but for once Jayfeather sounded friendly. “Come and have some traveling herbs.”
Leafpool set down two more leaf wraps in front of Alderpaw and Sparkpaw. Alderpaw delicately separated the herbs with one paw, studying them carefully.
“That’s sorrel to quench thirst.” Jayfeather identified the herbs by sniffing at each one.
“Daisy to keep your joints supple, and—” He broke off, then added, “But I guess you know all this. You’re really starting to learn your herbs.”
“Chamomile to ease tiredness, and burnet for strength.” Alderpaw identified the other two herbs in the mixture. He was happy at Jayfeather’s praise. He and Leafpool have been treating me differently since they talked to Bramblestar about my vision, he reflected.
It’s almost as if they think that there’s more to the quest than they know about, and they believe I know the truth. He suppressed a shiver. And, of course, I do know.
Jayfeather nodded at Alderpaw’s accurate description. “Good. We give these herbs to every cat who needs to travel. They’ll help keep you going even if you don’t have the chance to hunt.”
“They taste weird,” Sparkpaw commented as she licked up her share.
Jayfeather rolled his eyes but said nothing.
While Alderpaw was eating his share of the herbs, he noticed that Bramblestar had appeared and had drawn Sandstorm away from the other questing cats. The two of them were having a quiet conversation, their expressions serious.
Alderpaw caught a few words.
“If this secret gets out, it could be devastating for the Clans,” Bramblestar meowed.
“But StarClan gave Alderpaw this vision…,” Sandstorm began. Alderpaw lost the rest of what she said as the cats moved away.
Uneasiness stirred in Alderpaw’s belly. This was his own quest, and yet there was so much about it that he didn’t understand. And suppose I give away the secret about SkyClan? I wouldn’t mean to, but… what would happen then? He heaved a massive sigh. At least Sandstorm is coming with us, and she can advise me.
At last Bramblestar stepped back from Sandstorm with a nod of agreement, and he bounded across the camp to climb up to the Highledge.
Sandstorm padded over to Alderpaw and rubbed her cheek against his, her green eyes shining with pride in him. “You look worried,” she murmured.
“I heard part of what you and Bramblestar were saying,” Alderpaw confessed. “It sounds like he doesn’t trust me.”
“Nonsense!” Sandstorm responded. “It’s not that Bramblestar doesn’t want you to know about SkyClan; he doesn’t want any cat to know. It’s not his feelings about you. It’s his guilt about what the four Clans allowed to happen to SkyClan.”
But that was seasons and seasons before Bramblestar was born, Alderpaw thought. Why should he feel bad about it? It wasn’t his fault.
“I’m not sure I understand,” he mewed.
“Maybe you will in time,” Sandstorm responded.
Alderpaw dipped his head respectfully.
“Thank you, Sandstorm. I’m glad you’re coming with us.”
“Cats of ThunderClan!” Bramblestar called from the Highledge. “Alderpaw has had an important vision—and this vision is to set him off on a quest that, I predict, will prove as important to our Clan as the one that Dovewing undertook as an apprentice, when the drought came and she saved our lake.” Dovewing raised her tail proudly.
Alderpaw was aware of every cat turning to stare at him. He was startled to see the respect and admiration in their eyes. He ducked his head in embarrassment and stared at his paws. I really don’t deserve this.
“The medicine cats’ prophecy told us that unless we embrace what we find in the shadows, the sky will never clear. Alderpaw’s vision gives us hope that the cats of ThunderClan can find what lies in the shadows, and if so, then our Clan will prosper.”
The whole of ThunderClan erupted into enthusiastic yowling. “Alderpaw! Alderpaw!”
Alderpaw froze, almost wishing that a big owl would swoop down and carry him off. Then Sparkpaw gave him a nudge. “Come on, slow mole!” she meowed, giving him an affectionate glance. “It’s time to go.”
Alderpaw straightened, bracing himself.
“I’m glad you’re with me, Sparkpaw,” he murmured.
To his relief, Sandstorm took the lead as he and the other questing cats headed for the thorn tunnel. The rest of ThunderClan padded along with them, calling out their good wishes.
“Best of luck, Alderpaw!”
“Keep safe!”
“May StarClan light your path!”
At the last moment, before Alderpaw and Sparkpaw stepped into the tunnel, Squirrelflight bounded up to them. Alderpaw saw fear in her eyes, but her voice was brisk as she meowed, “Don’t you dare get yourselves killed! I want to hear all about it when you get back.”
“We’ll be careful,” Alderpaw promised.