Crookedstar’s Promise полностью

“He’d never be cross with Shimmerpelt,” Willowpaw purred. “He still can’t believe a cat like her would look twice at an old snaggletooth like him.” She brushed her muzzle against Crookedpaw’s jaw. “Have you seen Lakeshine’s kits yet?” The gray-and-white queen had kitted in the night.

“What?” Crookedpaw was still lost in her scent.

“Lakeshine’s kits.” Willowpaw nudged him. “Have you seen them?”

Crookedpaw shook his head. “Has she named them yet?”

“Sunkit and Frogkit,” Willowpaw purred. “They’re so cute. She let me wash one.”

Crookedpaw leaped over a shallow pool among the pebbles. “It’s good news for all of us. RiverClan always needs new warriors.”

“They’re still kits!”

“They’ll be warriors soon enough,” Crookedpaw pointed out. “Just like us.”

Willowpaw rolled her eyes. “Is that all you think about?” She bounded ahead and raced along the shore, her paws splashing in and out of the shallows as she veered past clumps of water-mint and mossy rocks.

Crookedpaw chased after her.

“Is this the pool?” Willowpaw leaped over the first stepping-stone, splashing down in the shallows, and pointed her nose to where the water dipped into a smooth, rolling current.

“That’s it.” Crookedpaw waded toward it. “You have to be careful,” he warned. “It sucks you down near the bottom.”

“I’m a strong swimmer,” Willowpaw reassured him.

“I know.” Crookedpaw glanced at her smooth, strong shoulders and purred. “But if it does grab you, don’t fight it. Just go limp. The river will wash you downstream where it’s shallower.”

Willowpaw took a deep breath and plunged in. Crookedpaw watched the broken water close over her and waited. Even though he trusted her skills, he couldn’t help worrying. The thought that anything bad might happen to her made his chest tighten. He was relieved when her ears broke the surface and she popped up holding a juicy carp.

“There’s loads down there!” she mewed happily. “And they’re too dumb to swim away!”

Crookedpaw dived in, feeling the water suck at his fur, pulling him down into the school of carp. He grabbed one, swam up, flung it on to the bank, and dived down for another.

“I want to go next!” Willowpaw called as he came up for the third time.

Crookedpaw tossed the fresh carp on to the shore. “Dive in with me!”

Willowpaw plunged in and swam down beside him. Her fur clouded around her as she reached the carp pool. She hooked one with her claws and dragged it to her mouth for a killing bite before she turned and began to pull herself up to the surface. Crookedpaw watched, impressed by her grace, before realizing that his lungs were aching. Quickly he ducked down, grabbed a carp, and swam for the surface.

Jeering mews welcomed him back to the air. A patrol of ThunderClan warriors was strutting on the edge of Sunningrocks.

“What’s the difference between a RiverClan warrior and a fish?” one yowled.

“A fish is hard to catch!” his Clanmate answered.

Another warrior, his fur thick and white, leaned over the edge. “Enjoy the river while it’s still yours.”

Willowpaw’s pelt bushed, her eyes blazing. “How dare they?”

Crookedpaw tossed his fish to the shore and bounded on to the stepping-stones. Spitting with rage, he leaped halfway across the river. “Come down here and say that, you worm-ridden fish-brains!”

“We just might!” the white warrior yowled. “Why don’t you run home before we do?”

“Come on then!” Crookedpaw unsheathed his claws. “I’ll rip your ears off!”

“You couldn’t climb down if you tried!” Willowpaw piped up behind him. “The only way ThunderClan can get down from Sunningrocks is to fall down! Go on! Try it! I wouldn’t mind if a few of you broke your flea-bitten necks!”

“Crookedpaw!” Oakheart’s mew made them both jump. “Come here.”

Prickling with frustration, Crookedpaw turned and leaped back to shore.

The ThunderClan warriors yowled with amusement. “Go back to the nursery, Wetkit!”

Crookedpaw growled.

Oakheart was pacing with excitement. “Save it for your next battle,” he meowed. “Hailstar wants everyone back at camp.”

“What for?”

“Come on!” Oakheart charged away.

Willowpaw stared. “What’s going on?”

Crookedpaw shrugged. “Let’s find out!”

They each scooped a carp from the pile they’d made and raced for camp. The fish tail flapped in Crookedpaw’s face as he ran.

He skidded through the sedge tunnel, Willowpaw at his heels. Their Clanmates were already gathered in the clearing. Oakheart stood panting beside Shellheart while Hailstar paced in the middle, tail swishing.

Crookedpaw dropped his fish on the fresh-kill pile beside Willowpaw’s. She’d already slid in beside Graypaw.

Crookedpaw nosed his way between Shellheart and Oakheart. “What’s going on?”

“Listen!” Shellheart silenced him.

Hailstar was mid-speech. “…so on the darkest night of the moon we will reclaim Sunningrocks!”

At last! Oakheart lashed his tail and Shellheart clawed the ground as the whole Clan cheered.

“What if we lose again?” Rippleclaw’s question was almost lost in the noise but he repeated it, louder. “What if we lose again?”

The cheers faltered and faded.