The distant shrieking of Twoleg kits shattered the air. Mudfur darted out of the snowy hollow and scrambled on to the frozen river. Tiptoeing carefully over the ice, he headed out past the reeds and peered along the channel.
“Can you see anything?” Brightsky gingerly followed her mate, while the rest of the Clan watched in silence.
“It’s a Twoleg kit!” Mudfur called back. “Upstream. It’s fallen through the ice.”
Echomist rushed to Brightsky’s side and stared upriver. “It’ll drown!”
“It has Clanmates with it,” Mudfur reported. “They’re pulling it out. And there’s a full-grown Twoleg on the bank.” He backed toward the shore, ducking among the reeds. “The kit’s out of the water.”
Echomist sighed. “Let’s hope that’s the last we see of Twolegs this leaf-bare.”
Crookedpaw pricked his ears. Paws were pounding through the snow beyond the sedge. Petaldust turned from the river, fur pricking. Piketooth dropped into a crouch and stared at the camp entrance. Crookedpaw tasted the air.
The RiverClan deputy thundered into camp, eyes bright, tail bushed. Oakpaw and Owlfur raced in after him, Softwing on their tail.
Softwing’s white pelt was bristling with excitement. “Oakpaw saved us!” She skidded to a halt, sending snow spattering over her Clanmates.
“Shellheart?” Hailstar pricked his ears.
Piketooth straightened. “What happened?”
Shellheart lifted his tail. “We were attacked by a dog.”
“A dog!” Brightsky bristled. “Where?”
Softwing paced in front of Hailstar. “We were patrolling beyond the marsh, near the Twoleg place,” she panted. “It came out from under the fence and went straight for us.”
“How big was it?” Hailstar asked.
Shellheart’s ears twitched. “Three times my size.”
Brambleberry stuck her head out from her den. “Any injuries?”
“None.” Shellheart flicked his tail. “Oakpaw was too fast.”
“He was so brave.” Softwing circled him.
Rainflower crossed the clearing and nudged Softwing out of the way. “Are you sure you’re not hurt?” She licked Oakpaw’s ears.
Oakpaw ducked away. “I’m fine.”
Brambleberry was weaving among the patrol, sniffing their pelts.
“It nearly got me!” Softwing’s eyes were round.
Owlfur brushed against the white warrior, curling his tail protectively over her back. “It was a whisker away from her tail!”
Shellheart plucked at the icy ground. “But Oakpaw turned around and distracted it.” He gazed proudly at his son.
Owlfur nodded. “He raced right at it…”
“… then reared up and slashed its muzzle,” Softwing finished.
“I don’t know whether the dog was more surprised or hurt.” Shellheart wound around Oakpaw. “But while it was howling and whining, we had time to get up a tree.”
Oakpaw looked at his paws. “I decided my claws were sharper than its teeth.”
Rainflower’s eyes glowed. “You saved your Clanmates.”
Oakpaw shrugged. “If I hadn’t, Shellheart would have done it.” He glanced at the others. “Or Owlfur or Softwing. I just got there first.”
Hailstar fluffed out his fur. “You did well, Oakpaw.” He paced the clearing. “But if a dog has started targeting warriors, we must be wary.” He raised his muzzle. “Let all cats old enough to swim gather to hear my words.”
Shellheart was purring. “You’d have been proud if you’d seen him, Crookedpaw.”
Brambleberry brushed against him. “Courage must run in the family,” she murmured.
Rainflower touched Oakpaw’s muzzle with her own. “I’m just glad you’re not hurt.”
Troutclaw padded stiffly down the slope. “What’s happening?”
“Dog attack,” Softwing called.
Tanglewhisker slid out of the elders’ den with Birdsong behind him. “Dog?” His eyes widened. “Where?”
“By the Twolegplace,” Owlfur explained. “Oakpaw fought it off.”
Fallowtail slid out of the warriors’ den. In the moon since Reedfeather took her kits, she’d grown thin and unkempt. “Did it follow them home?” She scanned the snow-covered reeds.
Echomist hurried to her side. “No, it’s gone. We’re safe,” she soothed.
As the Clan gathered, Hailstar padded to the middle of the clearing. “Oakpaw showed bravery tonight that has made him worthy of his warrior name.”
Oakpaw gasped. Crookedpaw stared at him in astonishment. He was going to be made a warrior! Right now!
“Go on, Oakpaw.” Shellheart nudged him forward.
“Oakpaw.” Hailstar dipped his wide gray head. Oakpaw’s glossy pelt glinted red under the round, rising moon. “From this moment on you shall be known as Oakheart,” Hailstar meowed. “StarClan honors your courage and your quick wits, and we welcome you as a full warrior of RiverClan.” He pressed his muzzle to Oakheart’s head. “Serve your Clan well.”
