Dovewing's Silence (7 page)

“I'll always be here to catch you,” Bumblestripe murmured. He nuzzled the back of her head before stepping away and they walked on in silence, close enough for their fur to brush together.

The first thing Dovewing noticed when
she reached the clearing on the island was that almost all the former Dark Forest cats were there. She wondered if it was because each leader wanted to prove that their Clan was united and loyal once more. She also thought that the other Clans seemed less hostile toward their traitorous Clanmates, but then, ThunderClan had so many more that had survived the battle. Perhaps it was easier to forgive one cat rather than several.

After spotting Breezepelt and Ratscar, Dovewing found herself searching for a familiar dark tabby pelt among the ShadowClan cats. As she watched, the warriors shifted to make room for Blackstar, who was heading for the leaders' tree, revealing Tigerheart deep in conversation with Shrewfoot. The pretty gray cat was gazing up at him as if he was telling her the greatest secret. Dovewing pushed down the pang of jealousy that twisted her belly. It was good that Tigerheart had been forgiven by his Clanmates. Any connection they had once shared was over forever. She had Bumblestripe now.

As if he had heard her thoughts, the gray-and-black tom
joined her. “Do you mind if we sit with Blossomfall?” he meowed. “I don't want her left on her own.”

“Of course,” Dovewing replied, feeling a rush of fondness for him. They padded over to fill the gap left beside Blossomfall and Thornclaw. Dovewing ended up next to Toadstep, and she tried not to hiss at him when he curled his lip at her.

Mistystar spoke first, her gray fur tipped with silver in a beam of moonlight. “RiverClan is well and strong after a moon of hard work. All my warriors are united in making the Clan secure and full-fed for leaf-bare, and all the seasons to come. I am pleased to report that Petalfur is expecting kits with Mallownose.” She paused to glance fondly at the gray-and-white queen, who preened. “A large pike was preying on the smaller fish on our side of the lake, but Lakeheart had the brilliant idea of placing stones in the shallow water to create an area the pike couldn't enter. Thanks to this, we have protected many of the smaller fish to stock our fresh-kill pile.” She dipped her head. “May StarClan light your path, all of you.”

As she sat back down on the branch, Blackstar rose unsteadily to his paws. His white pelt was so pale, he looked as if he was part of StarClan already. “ShadowClan is as strong as it ever was,” he wheezed, so quietly the listening cats leaned forward to hear. “We have rebuilt our dens and secured our borders. Our fresh-kill pile is full and we do not fear the leaf-bare ahead.” His wide eyes suggested otherwise, and Dovewing winced as he fought for breath. “We were briefly troubled by a fox on our topmost border but my brave warriors
drove it out.” He sat down abruptly, his flanks heaving.

Bramblestar spoke next, then Onestar. Their speeches were similarly short and vague, with little news beyond the restoration of dens and borders, and reports of well-stocked fresh-kill piles. None of the leaders mentioned the Great Battle or the recent alliance between the four Clans, as if history had never happened. Dovewing narrowed her eyes.
Will everything be forgotten so soon? What about the cats we lost? Shouldn't we honor their memory somehow, all of us together?

But the leaders were jumping down from the tree—or in Blackstar's case, lowering himself gently to the ground—and the cats in the clearing were already standing up, eager to leave. There would be no lingering tonight, no sharing of tongues and gossip after the serious business was done. Onestar led his warriors away first, swiftly followed by Mistystar. Bramblestar summoned ThunderClan with a flick of his tail and Dovewing found herself pressed among her Clanmates as they trotted over the tree-bridge and jumped down onto the marshy shore.

“That was weird,” Lionblaze commented when they were crunching along the pebbles below the moor. “Any cat would think the most exciting thing that happened in the last moon was RiverClan losing some fish to a pike!”

Beside him, Cinderheart looked thoughtful. “Perhaps that's the best way to recover, to return to the way things were before as quickly as we can. We won the Great Battle, so nothing needs to change.”

Bumblestripe twitched his ears. “Really? Do you honestly
think the Great Battle didn't change anything? Sometimes I think it has changed everything.”

Dovewing agreed with him. She watched him look sadly at his sister, walking a little way ahead with Thornclaw. Would ThunderClan be divided forever because of the Dark Forest?

The sound of coughing drifted through the trees as they climbed the slope to the hollow. Jayfeather trotted ahead, as sure-footed over the moss as if he could see. “Hazeltail, why are you still out here? You should have asked someone else to stand guard.” He sniffed her closely and placed his paw on her side to check her heartbeat.

The gray she-cat looked exhausted and hunched. “I'm okay,” she wheezed. “It's just a cough.”

“And it's not being helped by this cold air,” Jayfeather snorted. “Come on, you're spending the night in the medicine den.” He started to usher her through the thorns. “Bramblestar, you'll have to put someone else on guard,” he called over his shoulder.

Millie stepped forward. “I'll do it,” she offered. “I don't feel tired, and there's no point waking another warrior for what's left of the night.”

“Thanks, Millie.” Bramblestar dipped his head toward her. He looked closely at the rest of the cats. “Is anyone else feeling ill? Better to start getting treated now rather than wait until you're really sick.”

“Toadstep hasn't eaten much today,” Poppyfrost meowed, shooting a worried glance at the black-and-white tom.

“I wasn't hungry, that's all,” he muttered.

Bramblestar narrowed his eyes. “If you don't feel hungry tomorrow, see Jayfeather, please. Now, let's get to our nests. Patrols as usual first thing.”

Dovewing waited her turn to wriggle through the barrier. She heard Brightheart hiss to Cloudtail, “Why didn't you tell Bramblestar you've got a sore throat?”

“I'll see Jayfeather if it gets worse, I promise,” Cloudtail mewed as he ducked into the gap.

Dovewing felt a tremor of worry. First the Dark Forest seemed to have left divisions that would never heal, and now the whole Clan was getting sick!
Oh StarClan, help us!

Blinking sleep from her eyes, Dovewing stumbled out of the warriors' den at sunrise to see Jayfeather leaping confidently down the rocks that led to Highledge. Her heart lurched.

“Is Bramblestar sick?” she called.

Jayfeather stopped beside her and shook his head. “No, he's fine. I was just letting him know that Hazeltail will be off duties for a while.” As he spoke, Bramblestar emerged from his den and trotted down to the clearing, where he arched his back in a long stretch.

The sound of coughing came from the cave at the foot of the cliffs. Jayfeather looked grim. “I think Hazeltail has greencough. She has a fever, and I don't like the way her heart is racing.”

There was a gasp behind Dovewing. She turned to see Millie trotting from the entrance, having finished her post
on guard. “What about Briarlight? She can't stay in your den if there's a cat with greencough in there!” She ran over to the cave. “Briarlight! Come out at once!”

There was a pause, then Briarlight's dark brown face poked through the brambles. “What's the matter?” she asked sleepily.

“I don't want you in there if Hazeltail has greencough!” Millie ordered. “We'll have to find you somewhere else to sleep.”

Briarlight dragged herself out of the den with her strong front legs. As always, Dovewing felt a spasm of sadness as she saw the she-cat's haunches trailing uselessly behind her. “I wouldn't mind being somewhere a bit quieter,” Briarlight admitted as she crawled into the clearing. “Poor Hazeltail hasn't stopped coughing since she arrived!” She stopped to twist and bite an itchy spot on her spine. “Besides, I don't need to stay in the medicine den now, surely? I'm not ill!”

Leafpool emerged from the cave with a bundle of soiled moss in her jaws. She put it down and looked at Jayfeather. “Briarlight's right, you know,” she meowed. “We don't need to watch over her at night anymore.”

Briarlight twisted around to look at Bramblestar, who had finished stretching and was licking his chest fur. “Can I sleep in the warriors' den, Bramblestar? Please?”

The leader frowned. “I'm not sure there's room,” he admitted. “It's still pretty crowded in there.”

By now, other cats had woken and come into the clearing, where they were stretching and arching their backs, ready for
the first patrols. Purdy had emerged from his den and was listening as he smoothed his sleep-ruffled fur. “She's welcome to join us in here,” he called, nodding toward the elder thicket where there were sounds of Berrynose and his family stirring.

Briarlight's head drooped. It was obvious she wanted to join the warriors in their den.

“Why don't I join you, Purdy, then Briarlight can have my nest?” Dovewing offered.

Bumblestripe came up to her looking startled. “But I'd miss sleeping next to you!”

“It won't be for long,” Dovewing told him. “Squirrelflight is planning to build a second den for the warriors, remember?”

“Thanks, Dovewing!” purred Briarlight. “Can I go see my new nest now?” When Dovewing nodded, Briarlight hauled herself to the warriors' den and disappeared inside, leaving a scuffed trail on the earth.

She reappeared a moment later looking serious. “It's the right size for me, but it needs fresh bedding,” she commented. “Please can I have some pigeon feathers?”

Lionblaze dipped his head. “Why yes, leader. Anything else I can bring you? The finest fresh-kill perhaps? Soaked moss?” His tone was good-humored and teasing.

Blossomfall bristled. “Briarlight has to have the softest nest,” she insisted. “She can't feel thorns sticking into her, remember? If she gets a wound, it could get infected before she noticed.”

Lionblaze rested his tail-tip on Blossomfall's shoulder. “It's okay, I understand. Squirrelflight, is it okay if I take a patrol
to fetch bedding for Briarlight? We can go hunting straight after.”

The deputy nodded. “Take Dovewing, Ivypool, and Rosepetal with you. Make sure none of the moss is damp before you line her nest. And feel free to hunt a pigeon so we can use the feathers.”

Dovewing purred. This was a duty she would enjoy!

Briarlight's blue eyes shone. “Thank you! I promise I'll be useful. I can wake everyone for dawn patrols, and check nests for thorns while you're out. There's no reason I can't have duties of my own now. I am a warrior, after all!”

The warriors enjoyed only two nights
of peace after the Gathering before Toadstep started coughing. This time Dovewing struggled to feel sympathetic.
He knew he was getting sick! He should have gone to Jayfeather!

Hazeltail was still being nursed in the medicine cats' den, but as Toadstep didn't seem quite as sick, Jayfeather and Leafpool made a nest for him in the apprentices' den with Sandstorm. Squirrelflight announced that she was moving back to the warriors' den, saying that it made sense to let the coughing cats keep themselves awake. But Dovewing saw past the deputy's lighthearted comment to the strain in her eyes, and she wondered how many more cats would succumb to the illness.

Leafpool stood over the fresh-kill pile, making sure each cat was eating properly. When Dovewing selected a rather scrawny mouse, Leafpool reached out with one paw and stopped her. “I'll have that,” she meowed. “You and Bumblestripe can share this squirrel.”

Dovewing looked at the plump, fluffy creature. “It's huge!” she pointed out. “We could eat that for a whole moon!”

“Share it with Purdy, then,” Leafpool urged.

Dovewing dragged the squirrel over to the tree stump, trying not to sneeze as the wispy tail tickled her nose. Purdy licked his lips. “What a feast!” he commented.

“Bumblestripe, join us!” Dovewing called. The big gray tom trotted over with Sandstorm at his heels.

“Is there enough for me?” she asked hoarsely. She looked tired, and Dovewing could count her ribs along her bony sides.

“O' course!” Purdy grunted with his mouth full. He shifted to let Sandstorm take a bite from the squirrel's juicy rump. Swallowing, the old tom watched as Toadstep shuffled into the apprentices' den, followed by Jayfeather with a clump of fresh bedding. “Putting you and Toadstep together reminds me o' the time Firestar took all them sick cats to the old Twoleg den,” he remarked. “That were a brave thing he did, keeping the rest of us from getting ill.”

Sandstorm's eyes clouded. “It cost him a life, too,” she recalled.

“Do you think we'll do that again, if more cats start coughing?” Dovewing asked as she scraped a stringy piece of meat from between her teeth.

Sandstorm shook her head. “I doubt it. I don't want to infect anyone else, but it wouldn't help to be in that drafty old den. Better for all of us to be close to the medicine cats.” She looked down at her paws as if she'd lost her appetite, and Dovewing felt bad for making her think back to that terrible time of sickness.

She glanced around the clearing. Although it was sunhigh,
the sky was thick with clouds and the breeze smelled of rain. The cats huddled over their food, their fur blown all ways so that they resembled pine cones more than sleek, well-groomed warriors. A flash of movement caught Dovewing's eye. Blossomfall was slipping through the barrier, not using the usual gap but forcing a new way at one side of the entrance. The fur pricked along Dovewing's spine. Was Blossomfall trying not to be seen? She battled briefly with a stir of suspicion and cast out her senses, trying to picture the she-cat on the other side of the barrier. She felt the familiar jolt of dismay as no pictures appeared in her mind, and nothing came to her above the sounds of her Clanmates eating. She shook the feeling away.
Where is Blossomfall going
? There was only one way to find out.

Nodding to the other cats around the squirrel, she stood up. “I'm just going to the dirtplace,” she whispered to Bumblestripe to deter him from following her. She used the normal gap through the barrier, noting with relief that it was becoming less prickly. Outside the hollow, the trees clashed in the rising wind, and even though most of the leaves had fallen into heaps on the ground, little daylight seeped down to the forest floor. Dovewing trotted through the shadows, following Blossomfall's scent trail on the leaf mulch. Her heart was pounding and she kept her ears flattened, listening for sounds of danger. The buzzing noise had stopped but her senses still felt dull and heavy, and the half-lit forest seemed far more daunting and secretive than it ever had before.

Suddenly there was a rapid crackle behind her and
Blossomfall pounced on Dovewing's haunches, knocking her over. Dovewing scrambled to her paws and spun around. “What did you do that for?” she cried.

“You were following me, weren't you?” Blossomfall challenged. “Why would you do that? Don't you trust me?” Her fur was fluffed up and her voice was harsh with anger.

Dovewing looked down at her paws, flushed with shame. “I . . . I was just wondering where you were going.”

Blossomfall flicked her tail. “You may as well come with me, since you clearly think I'm up to no good.” She turned and bounded through the trees.

Dovewing raced to catch up, feeling branches slap her face as they hurtled through the undergrowth. They emerged into a burst of daylight on the old thunderpath. Blossomfall didn't slow as she swerved and headed along the pale stone to the tumbledown Twoleg den. To Dovewing's surprise, she skidded to a halt beside the ivy-covered den and vanished along its side. Dovewing paused.
Is she meeting a Dark Forest cat?
She thrust the thought away. Blossomfall had done nothing to make any cat question her loyalty since the Great Battle! Dovewing trotted after her Clanmate and found her bent over the dark brown soil behind the abandoned den. She was poking at some shriveled plants with one paw.

“I'm looking for catmint,” the she-cat hissed through gritted teeth. “Satisfied? I know Jayfeather and Leafpool grew some here, and I wanted to see if there was any left. Our Clanmates are getting sick, and we have to find a way to make them better before we have to dig any more burial holes!” Her
voice rose in despair and Dovewing felt a surge of sympathy, and guilt for doubting her.

“I'll help you,” she mewed, her voice cracking with emotion. She pressed against Blossomfall's flank in silent apology, then began picking over the loose, damp earth. To her relief, she uncovered a few tiny green stalks still bearing leaves. “Do you think these will help?” she asked Blossomfall.

The warrior nodded. “Bite them off carefully,” she instructed. “Leave the roots so they can keep growing.”

With a small harvest of stems, they headed back to the camp. “I'm sorry,” Dovewing meowed around her mouthful. “I shouldn't have doubted you.”

Blossomfall stopped and put down her little burden. “I'd probably have done the same,” she admitted. “Joining the Dark Forest was the biggest mistake I could have made. I . . . I'm not sure I can forgive myself.”

Dovewing leaned over and pressed her muzzle against Blossomfall's shoulder. “You have to,” she murmured. “For all our sakes. We have to move on from what happened, and find new ways to be strong.” Her words fell like stones into the cold air.
Does that include me learning to live without my senses?
she wondered.
Just like Blossomfall, I feel as if I can't forgive myself if I am losing them. How will I serve my Clan now?