Ivypools heart, p.1
Ivypool's Heart, page 1
Dedication
For Roberta
Allegiances
THUNDERCLAN
LEADER SQUIRRELSTAR—dark ginger she-cat with green eyes and one white paw
DEPUTY IVYPOOL—silver-and-white tabby she-cat with dark blue eyes
MEDICINE CATS JAYFEATHER—gray tabby tom with blind blue eyes
ALDERHEART—dark ginger tom with amber eyes
WARRIORS (toms and she-cats without kits)
WHITEWING—white she-cat with green eyes
BIRCHFALL—light brown tabby tom
SUNBEAM—brown-and-white tabby she-cat
MOUSEWHISKER—gray-and-white tom
BAYSHINE—golden tabby tom
APPRENTICE, BRISTLEPAW (orange-and-white tabby she-cat)
POPPYFROST—pale tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat
LILYHEART—small, dark tabby she-cat with white patches and blue eyes
NIGHTHEART—black tom
APPRENTICE, WAFFLEPAW (gray-and-brown tom)
BUMBLESTRIPE—very pale gray tom with black stripes
CHERRYFALL—ginger she-cat
MOLEWHISKER—brown-and-cream tom
APPRENTICE, STEMPAW (orange tabby tom)
CINDERHEART—gray tabby she-cat
FINCHLIGHT—tortoiseshell she-cat
APPRENTICE, GRAYPAW (white tom with gray spots)
BLOSSOMFALL—tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat with petal-shaped white patches
EAGLEWING—ginger she-cat
MYRTLEBLOOM—pale brown she-cat
DEWNOSE—gray-and-white tom
THRIFTEAR—dark gray she-cat
STORMCLOUD—gray tabby tom
HOLLYTUFT—black she-cat
FERNSONG—yellow tabby tom
HONEYFUR—white she-cat with yellow splotches
SPARKPELT—orange tabby she-cat
SORRELSTRIPE—dark brown she-cat
TWIGBRANCH—gray she-cat with green eyes
FINLEAP—brown tom
SHELLFUR—tortoiseshell tom
FERNSTRIPE—gray tabby she-cat
PLUMSTONE—black-and-ginger she-cat
FLIPCLAW—brown tabby tom
LEAFSHADE—tortoiseshell she-cat
LIONBLAZE—golden tabby tom with amber eyes
SPOTFUR—spotted tabby she-cat
QUEENS (she-cats expecting or nursing kits)
DAISY—cream long-furred cat from the horseplace
ELDERS (former warriors and queens, now retired)
BRAMBLECLAW—dark brown tabby tom with amber eyes
THORNCLAW—golden-brown tabby tom
CLOUDTAIL—long-haired white tom with blue eyes
BRIGHTHEART—white she-cat with ginger patches
BRACKENFUR—golden-brown tabby tom
SHADOWCLAN
LEADER TIGERSTAR—dark brown tabby tom
DEPUTY CLOVERFOOT—gray tabby she-cat
MEDICINE CATS PUDDLESHINE—brown tom with white splotches
SHADOWSIGHT—gray tabby tom
WARRIORS TAWNYPELT—tortoiseshell she-cat with green eyes
STONEWING—white tom
SCORCHFUR—dark gray tom with slashed ears
FLAXFOOT—brown tabby tom
SNOWBIRD—pure white she-cat with green eyes
YARROWLEAF—ginger she-cat with yellow eyes
GRASSHEART—pale brown tabby she-cat
WHORLPELT—gray-and-white tom
HOPWHISKER—calico she-cat
BLAZEFIRE—white-and-ginger tom
FLOWERSTEM—silver she-cat
SNAKETOOTH—honey-colored tabby she-cat
SLATEFUR—sleek gray tom
APPRENTICE, BIRCHPAW (light brown tom)
POUNCESTEP—gray tabby she-cat
LIGHTLEAP—brown tabby she-cat
GULLSWOOP—white she-cat
SPIRECLAW—black-and-white tom
FRINGEWHISKER—white she-cat with brown splotches
DOVEWING—pale gray she-cat with green eyes
QUEENS CINNAMONTAIL—brown tabby she-cat with white paws (mother to Firkit, a brown tabby tom; Streamkit, a gray tabby she-kit; Bloomkit, a black she-kit; and Whisperkit, a gray tom)
ELDERS OAKFUR—small brown tom
SKYCLAN
LEADER LEAFSTAR—brown-and-cream tabby she-cat with amber eyes
DEPUTY HAWKWING—dark gray tom with yellow eyes
MEDICINE CATS FRECKLEWISH—mottled light brown tabby she-cat with spotted legs
FIDGETFLAKE—black-and-white tom
MEDIATOR TREE—yellow tom with amber eyes
WARRIORS SPARROWPELT—dark brown tabby tom
MACGYVER—black-and-white tom
DEWSPRING—sturdy gray tom
ROOTSPRING—yellow tom
NEEDLECLAW—black-and-white she-cat
PLUMWILLOW—dark gray she-cat
SAGENOSE—pale gray tom
KITESCRATCH—reddish-brown tom
HARRYBROOK—gray tom
CHERRYTAIL—fluffy tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat
CLOUDMIST—white she-cat with yellow eyes
TURTLECRAWL—tortoiseshell she-cat
RABBITLEAP—brown tom
WRENFLIGHT—golden tabby she-cat
REEDCLAW—small pale tabby she-cat
APPRENTICE, BEETLEPAW (white-and-black tabby tom)
MINTFUR—gray tabby she-cat with blue eyes
NETTLESPLASH—pale brown tom
TINYCLOUD—small white she-cat
PALESKY—black-and-white she-cat
VIOLETSHINE—black-and-white she-cat with yellow eyes
BELLALEAF—pale orange she-cat with green eyes
QUAILFEATHER—white tom with crow-black ears
PIGEONFOOT—gray-and-white she-cat
GRAVELNOSE—tan tom
SUNNYPELT—ginger she-cat
APPRENTICE, BEEPAW (white-and-tabby she-cat)
NECTARSONG—brown she-cat
QUEENS BLOSSOMHEART—ginger-and-white she-cat (mother to Ridgekit, a reddish she-kit with a white nose, and Duskkit, a white tom with brown paws and ears)
ELDERS FALLOWFERN—pale brown she-cat who has lost her hearing
WINDCLAN
LEADER HARESTAR—brown-and-white tom
DEPUTY CROWFEATHER—dark gray tom
MEDICINE CATS KESTRELFLIGHT—mottled gray tom with white splotches like kestrel feathers
APPRENTICE, WHISTLEPAW (gray tabby she-cat)
WARRIORS NIGHTCLOUD—black she-cat
BRINDLEWING—mottled brown she-cat
APPLESHINE—yellow tabby she-cat
LEAFTAIL—dark tabby tom with amber eyes
WOODSONG—brown she-cat
EMBERFOOT—gray tom with two dark paws
BREEZEPELT—black tom with amber eyes
HEATHERTAIL—light brown tabby she-cat with blue eyes
CROUCHFOOT—ginger tom
SONGLEAP—tortoiseshell she-cat
SEDGEWHISKER—light brown tabby she-cat
FLUTTERFOOT—brown-and-white tom
SLIGHTFOOT—black tom with white flash on his chest
OATCLAW—pale brown tabby tom
HOOTWHISKER—dark gray tom
QUEENS LARKWING—pale brown tabby she-cat (mother to Stripekit, a gray tabby tom, and Brookkit, a black-and-white tom)
FEATHERPELT—gray tabby she-cat (mother to Leafkit, a white she-kit with gray spots; Branchkit, a white tomkit; and Grasskit, an auburn she-kit)
ELDERS WHISKERNOSE—light brown tom
GORSETAIL—very pale gray-and-white she-cat with blue eyes
RIVERCLAN
LEADER SPLASHTAIL—brown tabby tom
DEPUTY BERRYHEART—black-and-white she-cat
MEDICINE CATS MOTHWING—dappled golden she-cat
PODLIGHT—gray-and-white tom
WARRIORS DUSKFUR—brown tabby she-cat
HOLLOWSPRING—black tom
SPARROWTAIL—large brown tabby tom
MINNOWTAIL—dark gray-and-white she-cat
MALLOWNOSE—light brown tabby tom
SHIMMERPELT—silver she-cat
LIZARDTAIL—light brown tom
SNEEZECLOUD—gray-and-white tom
BRACKENPELT—tortoiseshell she-cat
FOGNOSE—gray-and-white she-cat
ICEWING—white she-cat with blue eyes
APPRENTICE, MISTPAW (tortoiseshell-and-white tabby she-cat)
OWLNOSE—brown tabby tom
HOLLOWSPRING—black tom
GORSECLAW—white tom with gray ears
SPARROWTAIL—large brown tabby tom
NIGHTSKY—dark gray she-cat with blue eyes
BREEZEHEART—brown-and-white she-cat
APPRENTICE, GRAYPAW (silver tabby tom)
QUEENS HAVENPELT—black-and-white she-cat (mother to Floatkit, a tawny she-kit; Rapidkit, a gray-and-white she-kit; and Troutkit, a brown-and-white spotted tom)
ELDERS MOSSPELT—tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat
Map
Contents
Cover
Title Page
Dedication
Allegiances
Map
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapt er 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
About the Author
Books by Erin Hunter
Back Ads
Copyright
About the Publisher
Prologue
A stiff wind was blowing, making Whistlepaw’s eyes water and flattening her fur against her sides. She stood on a rocky ridge, digging her claws hard into the scanty soil as she struggled to keep her balance. From the dizzy height, she stared out across an endless stretch of water, so huge that she couldn’t see the other side.
Is this what Crowfeather calls the sun-drown-place? she asked herself, remembering the stories the WindClan deputy told about his journey so many seasons before. Then recognition swept over her. This again . . . I’ve had this dream before.
The surface of the water was continually shifting, glittering in the sunlight. For a few heartbeats Whistlepaw gazed out across it, drinking in its beauty. But when she looked down to where the cliff fell away beneath her paws, she saw sharp rocks poking out of the water, with the waves churning around them, tossing spray high into the air.
Struggling against panic, Whistlepaw dug her claws in even harder, imagining herself swept from her precarious paw hold, flailing helplessly in the air before being dashed against the rocks and overwhelmed by the battering waves.
Then another sound pierced Whistlepaw’s ears: the voices of kits, crying plaintively as if they were begging for help. Their cries were distorted, mingled with the noise of wind and water and echoing all along the ridge.
Whistlepaw felt her heart overwhelmed with pity. Where are they? she wondered, gazing all around her but seeing nothing except the cliff and the fearsome expanse of water.
Before she could begin to search, a crushing sensation swept over her. She felt as though she were being buried under a massive weight of earth, cut off forever from light and warmth. It was guilt, as though she were responsible for the danger and terror of the kits.
But it’s not my fault! she wailed silently. I would never hurt them!
Fighting against the sensation, Whistlepaw was still trying to work out where the kits’ cries were coming from when a shadow fell over her. She looked up to see thick clouds surging across the sky, so fast that the sunlight was cut off in heartbeats. Thunder rumbled above her head, and the wind buffeted her with fierce gusts. A torrent of rain fell from the sky, soaking Whistlepaw’s fur between one breath and the next.
Then she saw him: a brown tabby tom, desperately trying to keep his balance on a narrow ledge halfway up the cliff. He whipped his head around, trying to follow the direction of the kits’ cries, and Whistlepaw realized that the suffocating sense of guilt was coming from him.
But who is he?
Suddenly the tabby tom stopped searching and gazed at her directly, a solemn purpose in his eyes. “You must make it right,” he told her, his voice rising above the clamor of the storm. “Or they are lost forever.”
Lost forever? Whistlepaw wondered. Make what right? I’ve never seen these cats before!
As he finished speaking, a loud yowl rose from somewhere in the distance. “Come down! Come down!”
Looking beyond the tabby tom, Whistlepaw spotted a group of about ten cats standing on a stretch of pebbly ground farther along the water’s edge. It looked like the end of a trail that turned away from the water, through a gap in the cliff. Behind the cats a range of hills led to the foot of a tall mountain. Looking up, Whistlepaw could see a bald rocky top in the shape of a fox’s head.
“The storm is getting worse!” another of the group caterwauled. “It’s now or never! Stay, and we all die.”
“We can come back for them!” a third cat screeched. “But we have to go now!”
Once again Whistlepaw heard the plaintive voices of the kits. They sounded closer now; she spotted a cave opening in the cliff face only a tail-length below where she was standing. Were they trapped? A horrible feeling came over her; she remembered when Leafkit had recently gotten trapped in the nursery by a falling log. There was nothing worse than the cry of a scared, trapped kit.
“They’re here! Right here! I’m coming!” she yowled, struggling to climb down, her claws seeking the tiniest cracks in the rock.
But when she reached the cave, Whistlepaw saw that it was empty, only stretching back a couple of tail-lengths. And now the pitiful mewling seemed to come from somewhere even lower, below a sheer slab of rock that offered no paw holds at all.
The storm still surged around her, the wind whipping at her pelt. The rain had soaked her to the skin, and her waterlogged fur weighed on her and made it harder to move. She felt that at any moment a gust of wind might lift her away from the narrow crack where she clung and drive her down into the churning water.
Looking up, Whistlepaw saw the group of cats leaving. They had emerged on top of the cliffs and were following a trail that led into the hills, in the direction of the fox-head mountain. The tabby tom, who brought up the rear, paused and looked back over his shoulder, fixing Whistlepaw with a mournful gaze. The kits were still wailing, and in spite of the danger, Whistlepaw was astonished that the full-grown cats were leaving them behind.
While Whistlepaw watched the departing cats, the clouds above them seemed to peel back. In the stretch of clear sky, she saw a tangle of curving vines that appeared to enclose a cloud split by a claw of lightning. It didn’t look real at all, much simpler than real clouds or vines. Whistlepaw was reminded of the odd marks that Twolegs left here and there around the lake territories.
Silence had fallen while Whistlepaw gazed at the strange symbol, but now the wailing of the kits broke out again, this time seeming to come from just above her head. “I’m coming!” Whistlepaw yowled, desperately scrambling upward.
But before she could reach the spot where she thought she heard the cries, her paws lost their grip on the slick rock. Letting out a screech of terror, Whistlepaw felt the wind snatch her into the air. She caught a glimpse of the spiky rocks as she fell . . .
. . . and landed lightly on her paws on the moss-covered ground of a forest. Her pelt was dry; the blustering of the storm, the kits’ plaintive cries, had sunk into silence.
Where am I now? In front of Whistlepaw stood a tree, strangely hollowed out, as if it had been burned from the inside. She stared at it for several moments, then padded softly toward it. The outer shell seemed to wrap around her, and suddenly she was inside it, standing in thick darkness.
When she had experienced the dream before, it had always ended here. But this time it continued. Gradually the darkness lifted; Whistlepaw could feel cool air moving around her and hear the gentle lapping of waves. As the light strengthened, she realized that she was standing on her own familiar lakeshore, with her back to the water and RiverClan’s territory stretching out in front of her. She waited, all her senses alert for what the dream was trying to tell her.
A sudden yowl startled her, and suddenly she saw Mistystar, the deceased RiverClan leader, lunging toward her out of a clump of fern. Her jaws were wide with anguish. “The debt must be paid, or . . .”
Whistlepaw realized that Mistystar wasn’t looking at her. Instead, her gaze was fixed at something over Whistlepaw’s shoulder.
Whirling around, panic spiking all along her spine, Whistlepaw saw the stream that bordered the RiverClan camp. But instead of the gentle ripple of water, the current was sluggish, and a harsh tang caught the back of Whistlepaw’s throat.
The stream was flowing with blood.
Chapter 1
The night was still dark, though above WindClan’s moor the sky was growing pale with the first hint of dawn. Ivypool let out a sigh as she watched the reflections of the stars glinting on the surface of the lake.
So many warrior spirits, but never the one I long to see.
The cat crouching beside her stirred a little. “Whenever I come here,” he began, “I remember the first time I saw Bristlefrost. The time when I’d fallen through the ice, and she rescued me. She was so brave!”
“You’re right, Rootspring,” Ivypool responded. “She was one of the bravest cats I’ve ever known. I would say that even if she hadn’t been my kit. My life seems . . . hollow, without her. I know I’ve said that before,” she added. “I just can’t seem to move on. I’m sorry.”
