Chapter 19

CHAPTER 19 In the following days, Fireheart struggled against the urge to visit his sister. His yearning to be with his kittypet kin was beginning to make him feel uncomfortable. He kept himself busy hunting in the snowy forests, replenishing the camp store. He had had a successful hunt this afternoon, returning to camp with two mice and a chaffinch as the sun dipped behind the trees. He buried the mice in the snow store and took the chaffinch for his own supper. As he finished his meal, he noticed Whitestorm padding toward him. "I want you to take Sandpaw out on the dawn patrol," the great white warrior meowed. "ShadowClan has been scented as close as the Owl Tree." "ShadowClan?" Fireheart echoed in alarm. Perhaps Tigerclaw really had found evidence of an invasion after all. "I was planning to take Brackenpaw out again tomorrow." "Isn't Graystripe better now?" asked Whitestorm. "He can take Brackenpaw." Of course! thought Fireheart. And perhaps

training his apprentice would keep Graystripe away from Silverstream for once. But that meant he would have to go on patrol with Sandpaw. And Fireheart couldn't help thinking of the furious look Sandpaw had given him when he'd interrupted her fight with the RiverClan warrior beside the gorge. "Just me and Sandpaw?" he asked. Whitestorm looked at him in surprise. "Sandpaw's almost a warrior, and you can take care of yourself," he replied. Whitestorm had misunderstood Fireheart's concern. He wasn't afraid of being attacked by enemy cats; he was afraid Sandpaw hated him as much as Dustpaw did. But Fireheart didn't correct him. "Does Sandpaw know?" "You can tell her," meowed Whitestorm. Fireheart's ear twitched. He didn't think Sandpaw would be too thrilled by the idea of patrolling with him, but he didn't argue. Whitestorm nodded briefly and bounded away toward the warriors' den. Fireheart sighed and padded over to where Sandpaw was sitting with the other apprentices.

"Sandpaw." Fireheart shifted uneasily. "Whitestorm wants you to patrol with me at dawn tomorrow." He waited for a resentful hiss, but Sandpaw merely looked up at him and meowed, "Fine." Even Dustpaw looked surprised. "O-okay," echoed Fireheart, taken aback. "Meet you at sunrise then." "Sunrise," agreed Sandpaw. Fireheart decided to share the good news about Sandpaw's lack of hostility with Graystripe. It might be a chance for them to start talking to each other again. Graystripe was sharing tongues with Runningwind by the clump of nettles. "Hi, Fireheart," Runningwind meowed as Fireheart approached. "Hi." Fireheart looked expectantly at Graystripe. But Graystripe had turned his head away and was staring at the boundary wall. Fireheart's heart sank. He dropped his head and turned back toward his nest. He couldn't wait to be out on patrol tomorrow and away from the camp.

The sky glowed palest pink above Fireheart's head as he pushed his way out of the den the next morning. Sandpaw was waiting for him outside the gorse tunnel. "Er, hi," Fireheart meowed, feeling a bit awkward. "Hi," Sandpaw answered quietly. Fireheart sat down. "Let's wait for the night patrol to get back," he suggested. They sat in silence until they heard the familiar rustle of bushes heralding the return of Whitestorm, Longtail, and Mousefur. "Any sign of ShadowClan?" Fireheart asked. "We definitely picked up some ShadowClan scents," answered Whitestorm grimly. "It's strange," meowed Mousefur, frowning. "It's always the same group of scents. ShadowClan must be sending the same warriors each time." "You two had better check out the RiverClan border," suggested Whitestorm. "We didn't get a chance to patrol there. Be careful, and remember, you don't want to start a fight. You're just looking for signs they've been hunting on our land again."

"Yes, Whitestorm," meowed Fireheart. Sandpaw nodded respectfully. Fireheart led the way. "We'll start at Fourtrees and work our way along the border to Tallpines," he meowed as they climbed out of the camp ravine. "Sounds good," replied Sandpaw. "I've never seen Fourtrees in the snow." Fireheart listened for sarcasm in her voice, but she seemed to be sincere. They reached the top of the ravine. "Which way now?" Fireheart decided to test her. "Do you think I don't know the way to Fourtrees?" Sandpaw protested. Fireheart began to regret acting like a mentor until he noticed a good-humored gleam in her eyes. She charged away through the woods without another word, and Fireheart pelted after her. It felt good to be running through the woods with another cat again. He had to admit Sandpaw was fast. She was still two fox lengths ahead when she leaped over the trunk of a fallen tree and disappeared. Fireheart followed, taking the tree in a single

bound. As he landed on the other side, something hit him from behind. He skidded in the snow, rolled over, and sprang to his paws. Sandpaw faced him, her whiskers twitching. "Surprise!" Fireheart hissed playfully and leaped on top of her. He was impressed by Sandpaw's strength, but he had the advantage of size. When he finally held her down in the snow, she protested, "Get off, you great lump!" "Okay, okay," meowed Fireheart, letting go of her. "But you asked for it!" Sandpaw sat up, her orange coat dusted with snow. "You look like you've been caught in a snowstorm!" she mewed. "So do you." They both shook the flakes from their fur. "Come on," Fireheart meowed. "We'd better get a move on." They raced side by side, as far as Fourtrees. By the time they reached the top of the slope that overlooked the valley, the sky was milky blue. Pale sunlight lit up the snowy hollow. The four bare oaks stood below them, glittering with frost. Sandpaw stared down, her eyes wide. Fireheart