Squirrelflight's Hope Read online

  Dedication

  Special thanks to Kate Cary

  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

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Exclusive Manga Adventure

  Excerpt from Bravelands #1: Broken Pride

  About the Author

  Books by Erin Hunter

  Back Ads

  Copyright

  About the Publisher

  Allegiances

  THUNDERCLAN

  LEADER BRAMBLESTAR—dark brown tabby tom with amber eyes

  DEPUTY SQUIRRELFLIGHT—dark ginger she-cat with green eyes and one white paw

  MEDICINE CATS LEAFPOOL—light brown tabby she-cat with amber eyes, white paws and chest

  JAYFEATHER—gray tabby tom with blind blue eyes

  ALDERHEART—dark ginger tom with amber eyes

  WARRIORS (toms and she-cats without kits)

  THORNCLAW—golden-brown tabby tom

  WHITEWING—white she-cat with green eyes

  BIRCHFALL—light brown tabby tom

  BERRYNOSE—cream-colored tom with a stump for a tail

  MOUSEWHISKER—gray-and-white tom

  POPPYFROST—pale tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat

  LIONBLAZE—golden tabby tom with amber eyes

  ROSEPETAL—dark cream she-cat

  APPRENTICE, BRISTLEPAW (pale gray she-cat)

  LILYHEART—small, dark tabby she-cat with white patches and blue eyes

  BUMBLESTRIPE—very pale gray tom with black stripes

  CHERRYFALL—ginger she-cat

  MOLEWHISKER—brown-and-cream tom

  CINDERHEART—gray tabby she-cat

  BLOSSOMFALL—tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat with petal-shaped white patches

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

  STEMLEAF—white-and-orange tom

  EAGLEWING—ginger she-cat

  DEWNOSE—gray-and-white tom

  APPRENTICE, THRIFTPAW (dark gray she-cat)

  STORMCLOUD—gray tabby tom

  HOLLYTUFT—black she-cat

  APPRENTICE, FLIPPAW (tabby tom)

  FERNSONG—yellow tabby tom

  LEAFSHADE—tortoiseshell she-cat

  SPOTFUR—spotted tabby she-cat

  LARKSONG—black tom

  HONEYFUR—white she-cat with yellow splotches

  SPARKPELT—orange tabby she-cat

  TWIGBRANCH—gray she-cat with green eyes

  FINLEAP—brown tom

  SNAPPTOOTH—golden tabby tom

  FLYWHISKER—striped gray tabby she-cat

  SHELLFUR—tortoiseshell tom

  PLUMSTONE—black-and-ginger she-cat

  QUEENS (she-cats expecting or nursing kits)

  DAISY—cream long-furred cat from the horseplace

  SORRELSTRIPE—dark brown she-cat (mother to Baykit, a golden tabby kit with white splotches and Myrtlekit, a pale brown she-kit)

  ELDERS (former warriors and queens, now retired)

  GRAYSTRIPE—long-haired gray tom

  MILLIE—striped silver tabby she-cat with blue eyes

  BRACKENFUR—golden-brown tabby tom

  CLOUDTAIL—long-haired white tom with blue eyes

  BRIGHTHEART—white she-cat with ginger patches

  SHADOWCLAN

  LEADER TIGERSTAR—dark brown tabby tom

  DEPUTY CLOVERFOOT—gray tabby she-cat

  MEDICINE CAT PUDDLESHINE—brown tom with white splotches

  APPRENTICE, SHADOWPAW (gray tabby tom)

  WARRIORS TAWNYPELT—tortoiseshell she-cat with green eyes

  DOVEWING—pale gray she-cat with green eyes

  STRIKESTONE—brown tabby tom

  STONEWING—white tom

  APPRENTICE, LIGHTPAW (brown tabby she-cat)

  SCORCHFUR—dark gray tom with slashed ears

  APPRENTICE, FLAXPAW (brown tabby tom)

  SPARROWTAIL—large brown tabby tom

  SNOWBIRD—pure white she-cat with green eyes

  APPRENTICE, POUNCEPAW (gray she-cat)

  YARROWLEAF—ginger she-cat with yellow eyes

  APPRENTICE, SPIREPAW (black-and-white tom)

  BERRYHEART—black-and-white she-cat

  GRASSHEART—pale brown tabby she-cat

  APPRENTICE, HOLLOWPAW (black tom)

  WHORLPELT—gray-and-white tom

  APPRENTICE, HOPPAW (calico she-cat)

  ANTFUR—tom with a brown-and-black splotched pelt

  BLAZEFIRE—white-and-ginger tom

  CINNAMONTAIL—brown tabby she-cat with white paws

  FLOWERSTEM—silver she-cat

  SNAKETOOTH—honey-colored tabby she-cat

  APPRENTICE, SUNPAW (brown-and-white tabby she-cat)

  SLATEFUR—sleek gray tom

  CONEFOOT—white-and-gray tom

  FRONDWHISKER—gray tabby she-cat

  GULLSWOOP—white she-cat

  ELDERS OAKFUR—small brown tom

  RATSCAR—scarred, skinny dark 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

  PLUMWILLOW—dark gray she-cat

  SAGENOSE—pale gray tom

  HARRYBROOK—gray tom

  BLOSSOMHEART—ginger-and-white she-cat

  SANDYNOSE—stocky light brown tom with ginger legs

  RABBITLEAP—brown tom

  MINTFUR—gray tabby she-cat with blue eyes

  NETTLESPLASH—pale brown tom

  TINYCLOUD—small white she-cat

  BELLALEAF—pale orange she-cat with green eyes

  PALESKY—black-and-white she-cat

  NECTARSONG—brown she-cat

  QUAILFEATHER—white tom with crow-black ears

  PIGEONFOOT—gray-and-white she-cat

  FRINGEWHISKER—white she-cat with brown splotches

  GRAVELNOSE—tan tom

  SUNNYPELT—ginger she-cat

  QUEENS REEDCLAW—small pale tabby she-cat (mother to Kitekit, a reddish-brown tom, and Turtlekit, a tortoiseshell she-kit)

  VIOLETSHINE—black-and-white she-cat with yellow eyes (mother to Rootkit, a yellow tom, and Needlekit, a black-and-white she-kit)

  ELDERS FALLOWFERN—pale brown she-cat who has lost her hearing

  WINDCLAN

  LEADER HARESTAR—brown-and-white tom

  DEPUTY CROWFEATHER—dark gray tom

  MEDICINE CAT KESTRELFLIGHT—mottled gray tom with white splotches like kestrel feathers

  WARRIORS NIGHTCLOUD—black
she-cat

  BRINDLEWING—mottled brown she-cat

  GORSETAIL—very pale gray-and-white she-cat with blue eyes

  LEAFTAIL—dark tabby tom with amber eyes

  EMBERFOOT—gray tom with two dark paws

  SMOKEHAZE—gray she-cat

  BREEZEPELT—black tom with amber eyes

  CROUCHFOOT—ginger tom

  LARKWING—pale brown tabby she-cat

  SEDGEWHISKER—light brown tabby she-cat

  SLIGHTFOOT—black tom with white flash on his chest

  OATCLAW—pale brown tabby tom

  HOOTWHISKER—dark gray tom

  HEATHERTAIL—light brown tabby she-cat with blue eyes

  FERNSTRIPE—gray tabby she-cat

  QUEENS FEATHERPELT—gray tabby she-cat

  ELDERS WHISKERNOSE—light brown tom

  RIVERCLAN

  LEADER MISTYSTAR—gray she-cat with blue eyes

  DEPUTY REEDWHISKER—black tom

  MEDICINE CATS MOTHWING—dappled golden she-cat

  WILLOWSHINE—gray tabby she-cat

  WARRIORS DUSKFUR—brown tabby she-cat

  MINNOWTAIL—dark gray-and-white she-cat

  MALLOWNOSE—light brown tabby tom

  CURLFEATHER—pale brown she-cat

  PODLIGHT—gray-and-white tom

  SHIMMERPELT—silver she-cat

  LIZARDTAIL—light brown tom

  HAVENPELT—black-and-white she-cat

  SNEEZECLOUD—gray-and-white tom

  BRACKENPELT—tortoiseshell she-cat

  JAYCLAW—gray tom

  OWLNOSE—brown tabby tom

  ICEWING—white she-cat with blue eyes

  NIGHTSKY—dark gray she-cat with blue eyes

  SOFTPELT—gray she-cat

  DAPPLETUFT—gray-and-white tom

  BREEZEHEART—brown-and-white she-cat

  HARELIGHT—white tom

  GORSECLAW—white tom with gray ears

  ELDERS MOSSPELT—tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat

  Maps

  PROLOGUE

  Squirrelpaw tasted the air. A soft breeze was spiraling into the sandy ravine, thick with the scent of moss and prey. Her paws pricked with excitement. She was about to explore her Clan’s territory, something she’d only smelled until now, for the first time. Hurry up, Dustpelt. On the other side of the clearing, her new mentor lingered beside Firestar while Cinderpelt and Sandstorm chatted next to them. She blinked at Leafpaw. “Couldn’t they have done their talking before the ceremony?” she mewed. “I want to explore the forest.”

  “Me too!” Leafpaw’s fur was fluffed with excitement. “Cinderpelt promised to show me where coltsfoot and burdock grow. I’m going to make my first poultice this afternoon.” Her amber eyes sparkled. “Wasn’t the ceremony great? Everyone was looking at us like we were real warriors already and not kits anymore.”

  “We’re not kits anymore!” Squirrelpaw remembered with a shiver of pleasure how Firestar had said her apprentice name for the first time. He’d looked so proud. She began to pace in front of Leafpaw, unable to keep still. “And we’ll be a real warrior and a real medicine cat soon. I hope I don’t have to train for too long. I want to be a warrior by leaf-bare. Then I can lead patrols.” Her thoughts were racing. “I wonder what my warrior name will be!”

  “Slow down! You only just got your apprentice name.” Leafpool nudged her with her muzzle.

  “But everyone gets to be a ’paw. I want a name that’s all my own.”

  “I can call you Squirrelface if you like,” Leafpaw purred.

  “Very funny.” Squirrelpaw glanced at her sister. “Do you think Firestar will name me Squirreltail? I hope not. I’d rather be called Squirrelflame or Squirreldash.” Her thoughts sped ahead. “But I won’t care what my warrior name is as long as I can be Squirrelstar someday.” She stopped and looked earnestly at Leafpaw. “Do you think I’ll be leader one day?”

  Leafpaw whisked her tail. “Of course!”

  Squirrelpaw felt a rush of pleasure. “I’ll be leader and I’ll have kits and they’ll rule the whole forest.”

  Leafpaw nodded eagerly. “And I’ll be the best medicine cat and I’ll share prophecies with StarClan every day, and together we will be the most powerful cats who ever lived.”

  Squirrelpaw paused. “Did StarClan tell you that?” she mewed hopefully.

  “No.” Leafpaw glanced at her paws shyly. “But it’s obviously true.”

  Across the clearing, Firestar turned away from Dustpelt. Squirrelpaw’s heart leaped. “They’re done talking!” She looked eagerly toward Dustpelt and Cinderpelt. Disappointment dropped like a stone in her belly as they began talking. “What else is left to say?”

  But Firestar and Sandstorm were headed across the clearing.

  “How does it feel to be an apprentice?” Firestar meowed happily as he neared.

  “Great!” Leafpaw hurried to meet them.

  Sandstorm swished her tail. “Do you feel different now that you’re ’paws?”

  “Of course!” Leafpaw wove around her mother. “Squirrelpaw’s already planning her warrior name.”

  Squirrelpaw fluffed out her pelt. “I’ve been planning my warrior name for moons!” She looked earnestly at Firestar. “You won’t name me Squirreltail, will you?”

  “One step at a time,” Firestar purred, his eyes shining with pride. “First you must finish your apprentice training.”

  “That’ll be easy!” Squirrelpaw’s tail shivered with excitement.

  Leafpaw frowned. “It’ll be easy for you. You don’t have to remember the name of every herb in the forest.”

  “But I have to remember every prey-scent and paw print,” Squirrelpaw pointed out.

  Sandstorm blinked at them fondly. “I know you’ll both make us proud.”

  “What if Leafpaw gets her medicine-cat name before I get my warrior name?” Squirrelpaw fretted. “That would be embarrassing.”

  “It won’t matter,” Firestar assured her. “You each have your own path to tread.”

  Sandstorm stretched her muzzle forward and touched her nose to Squirrelpaw’s and then to Leafpaw’s. “As long as you have each other, you’ll both stand tall.”

  Squirrelpaw’s fur prickled with happiness. She looked at her sister. “Leafpaw and I will always stick together.” She meant it with every hair on her pelt.

  Leafpaw twined her tail around Squirrelpaw’s. “And we’ll always help each other,” she vowed. “Nothing will ever drive us apart.”

  CHAPTER 1

  Greenleaf was giving way to leaf-fall, and shriveled leaves were already drifting along the forest trails. Ahead, a stream babbled, tumbling its way toward the lake, and beyond it the moor rose against a blue afternoon sky. Squirrelflight padded from beneath the trees and tasted the air. She could smell heather, dusty and browning.

  Eaglewing, Plumstone, and Bumblestripe fanned out beside her.

  “It’s quiet,” Eaglewing murmured.

  Plumstone gazed at the heather stretching ahead. “It’s perfect hunting weather.”

  Eaglewing stared at the trees as though he might see through them. “We’d best be on our guard.”

  Squirrelflight nodded, knowing that the young warrior was probably thinking of Ambermoon, his former mentor, who had been attacked by an owl a moon before on a day very much like this. She had died. It’s good to remember, Squirrelflight thought, that even the clearest days hold their dangers.

  Squirrelflight narrowed her eyes, straining to make out a dark shape near the top of the moor. She was leading the border patrol and had promised to report back on their neighbors. It had been nearly three moons since the Clans had redrawn their borders to make room for SkyClan, and the new scent lines had remained unchallenged. Bramblestar was happy—the new peace suited him—but he’d confided in her that he was worried that it was too good to be true.

  The dark shape dipped beneath the heather. Another darted after it. “Is that a WindClan patrol?” Squirrelflight wondered.

&nb
sp; Bumblestripe followed her gaze. “I think so.”

  “They’re heading away.” Plumstone narrowed her eyes.

  Squirrelflight shifted her paws. “We’d better check the border to make sure it hasn’t been crossed.”

  Eaglewing padded forward and sniffed the edge of the stream. Plumstone headed along the bank.

  Squirrelflight flicked her tail toward the stretch of prickly gorse beyond. “The border’s been moved,” she reminded them.

  “Yeah, but the stream is where the forest ends.” Eaglewing blinked at her.

  “We have to get used to our new borders, too.” Squirrelflight glanced at the ginger she-cat, surprised that a young warrior should already be so rooted in Clan traditions. Did her sister, Plumstone, feel the same way? “Have you ever marked the new border?”

  “Thornclaw said there was no point,” Plumstone told her. “He says ThunderClan cats don’t hunt on moorland. We hunt in the forest.”

  Squirrelflight widened her eyes, surprised. A strong Clan should adapt to change, not ignore it. Bramblestar would have to speak to his senior warriors. Has the peace only held because the Clans haven’t been trying to enforce our new borders? She padded downstream to where stones jutted out of the water, and hopped onto the first one. “ThunderClan cats hunt on ThunderClan land,” she called back to her Clanmates. “From now on we mark all our borders.” She scrambled onto the next stone, uncurling her claws as her pads slipped on the wet rock. Then she leaped onto the far shore. The air tasted peaty here and stringent with gorse scents. She was surprised that it could be so different only a few paces from the tree line. But the moor wind was brisk, always carrying fresh smells. In the calm of the forest, scents hung longer in the air.

  Behind her, Eaglewing and Bumblestripe looked distrustfully at the crossing stones.

  “Are you coming?” Squirrelflight whisked her tail impatiently.

  Plumstone brushed past her sister and leaped onto the first stone. “Come on!” She pricked her ears. “We’ve never been on WindClan land before.”

  “It’s ThunderClan territory now,” Squirrelflight corrected her. The stretch of moorland had clearly been left unhunted. The grass was untrampled, and no prey-scent sweetened the air. And yet ThunderClan hadn’t gone hungry since the border changes. It had been a good greenleaf. Prey had been plentiful. But when leaf-bare drove prey underground, they’d need this precious hunting territory. They had, after all, given a good swath of their forest to SkyClan.

  Plumstone hopped onto the bank and stopped beside Squirrelflight. “It smells like WindClan here.”