Yellowfang’s Secret полностью

“That’s good…” Cloudpelt sighed out the words. “Am I going to StarClan?”

“Not if I can help it,” Yellowfang muttered grimly.

Cloudpelt twitched his whiskers. “Maybe I’ll see you there…” His voice faded and his eyes closed again.

Her heart clenched with grief, Yellowfang stayed by his side. Gradually she became aware that another cat was standing beside her. She looked up to see Brokentail.

“Have you come to have your wounds treated?” she asked.

“No,” Brokentail sneered. “I’ve come to tell you not to waste your efforts with Cloudpelt. His time is over. He would never have been able to lead ShadowClan.” He drew himself up, his eyes gleaming in the darkness. “There is only one cat who can do that after Raggedstar. I will be the next leader of ShadowClan.”

“How can you say that?” Yellowfang gasped. “I am a medicine cat, and I will always do everything I can to save my Clanmates!”

Brokentail did not respond, just looked down at Cloudpelt with eyes that glittered with hostility. Then without another word, he stalked out of the den.

Brokentail lied about the rabbit, I’m sure of it. And now Cloudpelt is terribly injured. Yellowfang remembered what Raggedstar had said to his son when he made Cloudpelt deputy. Don’t worry. I’ve many seasons left in me, and if anything should happen to Cloudpelt, it will be your turn next. She forced her darkest fears away. Even if Brokentail had deliberately caught the rabbit to start a battle with WindClan, he couldn’t have known how badly Cloudpelt would be hurt. Brokentail is ambitious, but that’s a good thing for a warrior. I can still be proud of him.

Throughout the night Yellowfang tried every herb, every trace of knowledge she possessed, to help Cloudpelt, but as the sun slid into the den through the branches overhead, the white warrior’s faint breathing grew more ragged, then sank into silence. His tail-tip twitched once, and then was still.

He has gone to hunt with StarClan. Yellowfang bent over the deputy’s body, grief-stricken and scared deep inside. Things are going terribly wrong.

As she crouched over Cloudpelt’s body, she heard a rustling from Runningnose’s nest. His voice came from behind her, blurred with sleep. “How is Cloudpelt?”

“He’s dead,” Yellowfang choked out.

“No!” Runningnose got up and came to stand beside her, scraps of moss still clinging to his pelt. “Do you want me to break the news to Raggedstar?”

Yellowfang shook her head. “No. Thank you, but I have to do that myself.” She stumbled into the clearing and padded over to Raggedstar’s den. Creeping under the oak roots, she saw the Clan leader curled in his nest. “Wake up!” she meowed.

Raggedstar lifted his head, then scrambled up when he saw Yellowfang. “What news?”

“The worst,” Yellowfang admitted. “Cloudpelt walks with StarClan now.”

Raggedstar bowed his head. “He died the death of the noblest warrior.”

“But it was a battle that should never have been fought!” Yellowfang flashed back at him.

“Do not say that!” Raggedstar roared. “You dishonor Cloudpelt’s memory if that’s what you truly believe!”

“I would never do that,” Yellowfang assured him, forcing herself to meet her leader’s gaze steadily. “But I think Brokentail looked for this battle. Cloudpelt died unnecessarily.”

Raggedstar narrowed his eyes. “What exactly are you saying?”

Yellowfang flinched. “I don’t think you should make Brokentail deputy in his place.”

“I will not listen to this!” Raggedstar snarled. His amber gaze, alight with anger, rested on her like a flame. “You are my medicine cat, Yellowfang, and your loyalty should only be to me and my warriors. Never question me again!”

The moon was rising above the trees. In the clearing, the ShadowClan cats kept vigil for Cloudpelt. Yellowfang sat near his head. She remembered the eager apprentice he had been, looking forward to having a mate and kits.

I’m so sorry that will never happen. But you were a fine deputy for your Clan, and you died with a warrior’s courage.

Movement alerted Yellowfang, and she looked up to see Raggedstar leaping up onto the Clanrock.

“Cats of ShadowClan!” he began. “We have lost Cloudpelt, and we grieve for him. But the life of the Clan must continue. It is time to appoint a new deputy.” He paused, but this time there was no sense of anticipation among the Clan. Every cat knew who the Cloudpelt’s successor would be.