The Forgotten Warrior Read online

  OMEN OF THE STARS

  WARRIORS

  THE FORGOTTEN WARRIOR

  ERIN HUNTER

  Dedication

  Special thanks to Cherith Baldry

  Contents

  Cover

  Title Page

  Dedication

  Allegiances

  Maps

  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

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Back Ad

  Warriors Adventure Game

  Training Day

  After the Adventure

  About the Author

  Also by Erin Hunter

  Credits

  Copyright

  About the Publisher

  Allegiances

  THUNDERCLAN

  LEADER FIRESTAR—ginger tom with a flame-colored pelt

  DEPUTY BRAMBLECLAW—dark brown tabby tom with amber eyes

  MEDICINE CAT JAYFEATHER—gray tabby tom with blind blue eyes

  WARRIORS (toms and she-cats without kits)

  GRAYSTRIPE—long-haired gray tom

  DUSTPELT—dark brown tabby tom

  SANDSTORM—pale ginger she-cat with green eyes

  BRACKENFUR—golden brown tabby tom

  SORRELTAIL—tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat with amber eyes

  CLOUDTAIL—long-haired white tom with blue eyes

  BRIGHTHEART—white she-cat with ginger patches

  MILLIE—striped gray tabby she-cat with blue eyes

  THORNCLAW—golden brown tabby tom

  SQUIRRELFLIGHT—dark ginger she-cat with green eyes

  LEAFPOOL—light brown tabby she-cat with amber eyes, former medicine cat

  SPIDERLEG—long-limbed black tom with brown underbelly and amber eyes

  BIRCHFALL—light brown tabby tom

  WHITEWING—white she-cat with green eyes

  BERRYNOSE—cream-colored tom

  HAZELTAIL—small gray-and-white she-cat

  MOUSEWHISKER—gray-and-white tom

  CINDERHEART—gray tabby she-cat

  LIONBLAZE—golden tabby tom with amber eyes

  FOXLEAP—reddish tabby tom

  ICECLOUD—white she-cat

  TOADSTEP—black-and-white tom

  ROSEPETAL—dark cream she-cat

  BRIARLIGHT—dark brown she-cat

  BLOSSOMFALL—tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat

  BUMBLESTRIPE—very pale gray tom with black stripes

  DOVEWING—pale gray she-cat with blue eyes

  IVYPOOL—silver-and-white tabby she-cat with dark blue eyes

  QUEENS (she-cats expecting or nursing kits)

  FERNCLOUD—pale gray (with darker flecks) she-cat with green eyes

  DAISY—cream long-furred cat from the horseplace

  POPPYFROST—tortoiseshell she-cat (mother to Cherrykit, a ginger she-cat, and Molekit, a brown-and-cream tom)

  ELDERS (former warriors and queens, now retired)

  MOUSEFUR—small dusky brown she-cat

  PURDY—plump tabby former loner with a gray muzzle

  SHADOWCLAN

  LEADER BLACKSTAR—large white tom with one jet-black forepaw

  DEPUTY ROWANCLAW—ginger tom

  MEDICINE CAT LITTLECLOUD—very small tabby tom

  WARRIORS OAKFUR—small brown tom

  SMOKEFOOT—black tom

  TOADFOOT—dark brown tom

  APPLEFUR—mottled brown she-cat

  CROWFROST—black-and-white tom

  RATSCAR—brown tom with long scar across his back

  SNOWBIRD—pure white she-cat

  TAWNYPELT—tortoiseshell she-cat with green eyes

  OLIVENOSE—tortoiseshell she-cat

  OWLCLAW—light brown tabby tom

  SHREWFOOT—gray she-cat with black feet

  SCORCHFUR—dark gray tom

  REDWILLOW—mottled brown-and-ginger tom

  TIGERHEART—dark brown tabby tom

  DAWNPELT—cream-furred she-cat

  PINENOSE—black she-cat

  FERRETCLAW—cream-and-gray tom

  STARLINGWING—ginger tom

  QUEENS KINKFUR—tabby she-cat, with long fur that sticks out at all angles

  IVYTAIL—black, white, and tortoiseshell she-cat

  ELDERS CEDARHEART—dark gray tom

  TALLPOPPY—long-legged light brown tabby she-cat

  SNAKETAIL—dark brown tom with tabby-striped tail

  WHITEWATER—white she-cat with long fur, blind in one eye

  WINDCLAN

  LEADER ONESTAR—brown tabby tom

  DEPUTY ASHFOOT—gray she-cat

  MEDICINE CAT KESTRELFLIGHT—mottled gray tom

  WARRIORS CROWFEATHER—dark gray tom

  OWLWHISKER—light brown tabby tom

  APPRENTICE, WHISKERPAW (light brown tom)

  WHITETAIL—small white she-cat

  NIGHTCLOUD—black she-cat

  GORSETAIL—very pale gray-and-white tom with blue eyes

  WEASELFUR—ginger tom with white paws

  HARESPRING—brown-and-white tom

  LEAFTAIL—dark tabby tom with amber eyes

  ANTPELT—brown tom with one black ear

  EMBERFOOT—gray tom with two dark paws

  HEATHERTAIL—light brown tabby she-cat with blue eyes

  APPRENTICE, FURZEPAW (gray-and-white she-cat)

  BREEZEPELT—black tom with amber eyes

  APPRENTICE, BOULDERPAW (large pale gray tom)

  SEDGEWHISKER—light brown tabby she-cat

  SWALLOWTAIL—dark gray she-cat

  SUNSTRIKE—tortoiseshell she-cat with large white mark on her forehead

  ELDERS WEBFOOT—dark gray tabby tom

  TORNEAR—tabby tom

  RIVERCLAN

  LEADER MISTYSTAR—gray she-cat with blue eyes

  DEPUTY REEDWHISKER—black tom

  APPRENTICE, HOLLOWPAW (dark brown tabby tom)

  MEDICINE CAT MOTHWING—dappled golden she-cat

  APPRENTICE, WILLOWSHINE (gray tabby she-cat)

  WARRIORS GRAYMIST—pale gray tabby she-cat

  APPRENTICE, TROUTPAW (pale gray tabby she-cat)

  MINTFUR—light gray tabby tom

  ICEWING—white she-cat with blue eyes

  MINNOWTAIL—dark gray she-cat

  APPRENTICE, MOSSYPAW (brown-and-white she-cat)

  PEBBLEFOOT—mottled gray tom

  APPRENTICE, RUSHPAW (light brown tabby tom)

  MALLOWNOSE—light brown tabby tom

  ROBINWING—tortoiseshell-and-white tom

  BEETLEWHISKER—brown-and-white tabby tom

  PETALFUR—gray-and-white she-cat

  GRASSPELT—light brown tom

  QUEENS DUSKFUR—brown tabby she-cat

  MOSSPELT—tortoiseshell she-cat with blue eyes

  ELDERS DAPPLENOSE—mottled gray she-cat

  POUNCETAIL—ginger-and-white tom

  CATS OUTSIDE THE CLANS

  SMOKY—muscular gray-and-white tom who lives in a barn at the horseplace

  FLOSS—small gray-and-white she-cat who lives at the horseplace

  OTHER ANIMALS

  MIDNIGHT—a star-gazing badger who lives by the se
a

  Maps

  Prologue

  Brambles rustled at the edge of a wood as a cat emerged into the open. Watchful eyes flicked to each side; then the cat strode out across a wide stretch of meadow grass, heading toward another belt of trees in the distance. Bright newleaf sun shone down on a landscape patched with fields and hedges. Twoleg dens clustered together beside a Thunderpath.

  Even so early in the season, the sun was hot, and the cat’s ears flicked in irritation as flies buzzed around them. It will be cooler under the trees, the traveler thought, pausing for a moment to flex tired paws. And there’s not much farther to go. Just beyond that range of hills . . .

  But before the cat reached the inviting shade of the wood, a loud hiss sounded and a second cat leaped out from under a nearby hedge: a tough, lean tom with a gray pelt and one bitten ear.

  “What are you doing here?” the tom demanded. “If you’re looking for somewhere to rest, keep looking. This is my place. And the prey around here is mine.”

  The traveling cat halted and looked the tom up and down with narrowed eyes. “Your place? You mean, you live in this hedge?”

  “No, I’m from the farm over there.” The tom waved his tail in the direction of a large Twoleg den just visible above the thorns. “And I don’t like strangers. Keep going, or I’ll make you.” He bared his teeth and slid out his claws, his mangy cloud-colored fur fluffing up in anger.

  The traveler rocked back on its haunches. It’s been a while since I used my fighting skills . . . but I’m not going to let this mange-pelt scare me. “I’m just passing through. I’m no threat to your precious prey.”

  The farm cat let out a disbelieving snort and tilted his head to one side. “Are you one of those cats from the lake?”

  The journeying cat’s tone was wary. “Why do you ask?”

  “Because I’ve seen them coming this way before,” the gray tom replied. “Oh, they haven’t seen me, I’ve made sure of that. But I’ve heard them talking about the mountains.” He rolled his eyes. “Who’d want to go all that way? Can’t they find enough food where they live?”

  “Maybe they’re not looking for food.” The first cat’s voice was tinged with scorn. “There are other things in life, you know.”

  The farm cat sat down and scratched his ear with one hindpaw. “Like what?” he mewed contemptuously. “Gazing at the stars and imagining your ancestors are looking back at you?” At the traveler’s start of surprise, he added, “I’ve listened to plenty of tales about what happens on the other side of those hills. As long as they don’t trouble me, I don’t care what those cats get up to. They can—”

  “Right,” the traveler interrupted, pushing past the farm cat and padding on. “As long as they don’t steal your prey.”

  The gray tom sprang to his paws and followed. “You’re one of them, aren’t you?” he asked as he caught up. “I think I’ve seen you before.”

  “Maybe.” The journeying cat’s whiskers twitched. “A long time ago.”

  “Where have you been?” The farm cat’s voice was curious. “Did you get lost?”

  “Oh, no.” The stranger sounded faintly amused. “I always knew where I was.”

  The farm cat fell back, watching the stranger pad toward the trees. Then he shook his head and bounded back to the farm, vanishing under the hedge with a whisk of his tail.

  The traveler reached the wood and looked around for a place to make a temporary nest, but each paw prickled with restlessness, and none of the hollows or the spaces under the tree-roots seemed quite suitable. A mouse crept out from under a bush, nibbling at fallen grass seeds. Remembering long-forgotten lessons, the traveler dropped into the hunter’s crouch and sprang, killing the mouse with a single swift blow. But the limp body looked unappetizing with the life chased out of it; the cat scraped a few pawfuls of earth over it and left it.

  Dusk was falling as the traveler continued, heading up the hill more swiftly through the spindly trees.

  It’s been a long time. Will the cats that I remember best still be there?

  As the day began to fade, the cat left the trees behind and reached the crest of a hill covered in tough moorland grass. Below, a scarlet sunset was reflected in the lake, transforming the water to the color of blood. Above the stranger’s head, the first warriors of StarClan were glimmering in the sky.

  The traveling cat took a deep breath. I have returned. Let vengeance begin.

  Chapter 1

  Jayfeather’s dream dissolved into darkness as he woke and stretched his jaws in a massive yawn. His whole body seemed heavy, and when he sat up in his nest he felt as though ivy tendrils were wrapped around him, dragging him back to the ground. The air was hotter than usual for late newleaf, filled with the scents of prey and lush green growth. Noise filtered through the brambles that screened the medicine cat’s den from the rest of the stone hollow: pawsteps and the excited murmuring of many cats as they gathered for the first patrols of the day.

  But Jayfeather couldn’t share his Clanmates’ excitement. Although a moon had passed since he and his companions had returned from their visit to the Tribe, he felt cold and bleak inside. His head was full of images of mountains, endless snow-covered peaks stretching into the distance, outlined crisply against an ice-blue sky. His belly cramped with pain as he recalled one particular image: a white cat with green eyes who gave him a long, sorrowful look before she turned away and padded along a cliff top above a thundering waterfall.

  Jayfeather shook his head. What’s the matter with me? That was all a long, long time ago. My life has always been here with the Clans. So why do I feel as if something has been lost?

  “Hi, Jayfeather.” Briarlight’s voice had a muffled, echoing sound, and Jayfeather realized she must have her head inside the cleft where he stored his herbs. “You’re awake at last.”

  Jayfeather replied with a grunt. Briarlight was another of his problems. He couldn’t forget what Lionblaze had told him when he returned to the mountains: how Briarlight was so frustrated by being confined to the hollow, trapped by her damaged hindlegs, that she’d persuaded her brother Bumblestripe to carry her into the forest to look for herbs.

  “There was a dog running loose,” Lionblaze had told him. “A cat with four functioning legs would have been hard-pressed to outrun it. If it hadn’t been for me and Toadstep luring it away, Briarlight would have been torn to pieces.”

  “Mouse-brain!” Jayfeather snapped. “Why would she put herself in danger like that?”

  “Because she’s convinced that she’s useless,” Lionblaze explained. “Can’t you give her more to do? Cinderheart and I promised her we’d help her find a proper part to play in the life of the Clan.”

  “You had no right to promise her anything without speaking to me first,” Jayfeather retorted. “Are you suggesting I take her as my apprentice? Because I don’t want an apprentice!”

  “That’s not what I meant,” Lionblaze meowed, his tail-tip twitching in annoyance. “But you could find more interesting duties for her, couldn’t you?”

  Still reluctant, Jayfeather had done as his brother asked. He had to admit that Briarlight was easy to teach. She had been stuck in the medicine cat’s den for so long that she had already picked up a lot.

  She’s actually useful, he mused. Her paws are neat and quick when she sorts the herbs, and she’s good at soaking wilted leaves in the pool without letting them fall to pieces.

  “Jayfeather?” Briarlight’s voice roused Jayfeather from his thoughts. He heard her wriggling around, and then her voice came more clearly as if she was poking her head out of the cleft. “Are you okay? You were tossing and turning all night.”

  “I’m fine,” Jayfeather muttered, unwilling to dwell any longer on the dreams that had plagued him.

  “We’re running low on marigold,” Briarlight went on. “We used up a lot on Dovewing’s scratches when you got back from the mountains. Should I ask Brightheart to collect some more?”

  “No, I’ll g
o,” Jayfeather muttered.

  “Fine.” Briarlight’s voice was determinedly cheerful. “I’ll get on with sorting the herbs. Oh, one more thing . . .”

  Jayfeather heard the young she-cat dragging herself across the floor of the den until she reached his nest and pushed something toward him. “Could you throw this out on your way past the dirtplace?” she asked. “It was stuck at the back of the herb store.”

  Jayfeather stretched out his neck until his nose touched a tuft of fur with a few dried scraps of leaf dusted on it. He stiffened as he recognized the faint scent that clung to it.

  “Who would have put an old bit of fur among the herbs?” Briarlight continued. “It must have been in there for ages. I don’t recognize the scent or color.”

  For a moment Jayfeather didn’t reply. He breathed in his lost sister’s scent, overwhelmed by longing for the time when he and Hollyleaf and Lionblaze had played and trained together, before they knew anything about the prophecy, before they learned how Squirrelflight and Leafpool had lied to them.

  I don’t know how Hollyleaf’s fur got into the store, he thought, but I should have thrown it out when I first found it there, not left it for another cat to find.

  “I wonder where it came from,” Briarlight meowed. “Maybe a cat from another Clan got in here to steal herbs.” She stifled a mrrow of laughter. “Maybe the kits got in and hid it.”

  “How would I know?” Jayfeather snapped, irritated at being jerked out of his memories. “You should stop letting your imagination run away with you.”

  Turning so that Briarlight couldn’t see what he was doing, he tucked the scrap of fur deep inside the moss of his nest, and rose to his paws. “I’m going to fetch that marigold,” he mewed, and headed out of the den.