Dovewing's Silence by Erin Hunter Page A

apprentice. “Time for battle training!”
    â€œCan we go too?” Dewpaw begged, as his sister scampered over to join her mentor.
    â€œSure we can,” Whitewing meowed.
    â€œAnd me!” Amberpaw raced across the camp and skidded to a halt beside her littermates.
    â€œNo, not you!” Spiderleg called from where he stood beside the fresh-kill pile with Cloudtail and Cherryfall. “You did the dawn patrol this morning. You need to rest.”
    Amberpaw’s tail drooped. “But they’ll be learning stuff when I’m not there!” she wailed. “I’ll get behind, and then I’ll never be a warrior!”
    Spiderleg padded over to her and gave her ear a friendly flick with his tail. “Of course you’ll be a warrior, mouse-brain! Once you’ve rested, I’ll show you the move they’re going to learn, I promise.”
    â€œOkay.” Amberpaw still cast a regretful look after her littermates and their mentors as they left the hollow.
    â€œWhat about us?” Lilypaw asked, exchanging a disappointed glance with Seedpaw. “Why can’t we do battle training?”
    â€œBecause we’re going hunting,” Poppyfrost replied briskly. “Come on! Bumblestripe knows the best place to find mice.”
    â€œGreat!” Seedpaw exclaimed with an excited little bounce. “Lilypaw, I bet I catch more mice than you.”
    â€œ I’m going to catch enough for the whole Clan!” her sister retorted.
    â€œIt’s not fair,” Amberpaw muttered as she watched them go. “Why don’t I get to do anything?”
    â€œI told you,” Spiderleg responded. “You did the dawn patrol. Now you rest. But before you do,” he went on, “you canfetch some clean moss for Purdy’s den.”
    Amberpaw brightened up. “Sure! And maybe he’ll tell me a story!” She darted off and thrust her way into the barrier.
    â€œI wonder if I ever had that much energy?” Bramblestar mewed aloud as he watched the young cat disappear.
    Sandstorm popped her head out of the nearby nursery. “You still do!” she told him. She emerged into the open, pushing a ball of moss in front of her. “It’s good to see the little ones being so lively. It gives me new hope for our Clan.” She paused, her gaze clouding, and Bramblestar wondered if she was thinking about her former mate, Firestar, who wasn’t here to watch this group of apprentices grow up. Then she lifted her head again. “Daisy and I are clearing out the nursery,” she announced, giving the ball of moss a prod with one paw. “There might not be any kits now, but surely some of our young she-cats will be expecting soon.”
    â€œI hope so,” Bramblestar replied, remembering his earlier conversation with Berrynose. I really hope so . “Surely there are other cats who could help Daisy?” he went on, thinking that Sandstorm didn’t need to be struggling with bedding, covered in dust and scraps of moss.
    Amusement sparked in Sandstorm’s green eyes. “Are you trying to pack me off to the elders’ den?” she teased.
    â€œYou’ve served your Clanmates long enough,” Bramblestar responded. “Why not let them take care of you now?”
    Sandstorm flicked her whiskers dismissively. “I’ve plenty of life in my paws yet,” she insisted, retreating into the nursery to help Daisy wrestle with a huge clump of brittle, musty moss.
    Bramblestar watched the she-cats for a moment longer before turning away. His deputy, Squirrelflight, stood near the elders’ den, sorting out the hunting patrols with Graystripe; like Sandstorm, the former deputy was one of the oldest cats in the Clan now.
    â€œWe need the hunting patrols to go out early,” Graystripe was explaining to Squirrelflight. “With the days getting hotter, it’s best to avoid sunhigh for chasing