Dovewing's Silence by Erin Hunter Page B

around.”
    Squirrelflight nodded. “And the prey will be holed up by then, too. I’ve already sent out one patrol,” she went on, “but I’ll send out another. Brightheart would be a good cat to lead it.” She glanced around. “Hey, Brightheart!”
    The ginger-and-white she-cat slid out between the branches that sheltered the warriors’ den. “Yes?”
    â€œI want you to lead a hunting patrol,” Squirrelflight told her. “But stick to one area, and come back before it gets too hot.”
    Brightheart dipped her head. “Any particular place?” she asked.
    â€œYou could try up by the ShadowClan border,” Squirrelflight suggested. “Millie spotted a nest of squirrels there yesterday.”
    â€œGood idea,” Brightheart mewed. “Which cats should I take with me?”
    â€œMillie, obviously, since she knows where the nest is. Apart from her, any cat you like.”
    â€œI’m on my way.” Brightheart bounded off to call Millie from the warriors’ den. Then she rounded up Dovewing andMousewhisker and headed out through the thorns.
    The barrier was still trembling from their departure when Amberpaw reappeared with a huge bundle of moss in her jaws. As she staggered toward the elders’ den, Bramblestar noticed that the moss was dripping with water, leaving a line of dark spots on the dusty floor of the clearing.
    Squirrelflight stepped out to intercept the apprentice as she drew closer to the den. “You can’t take that in there,” she told Amberpaw sharply. “That moss is too wet. It’ll soak all the other bedding and Purdy will claw your ears off for making his legs ache from the damp.”
    At the mention of his name Purdy ducked out of the shelter of the hazel bush. “There’s nothin’ wrong with my legs, or my ears,” he snorted.
    â€œHow about your pelt?” Amberpaw asked, dropping the moss.
    Bramblestar stifled a mrrow of amusement: Purdy’s tabby pelt looked as if he had crawled backward through the thorns, the fur clumped and sticking up as if he hadn’t groomed himself for a moon.
    â€œEh? Speak up!” Purdy complained. “Why are you mumblin’? Young cats these days always mumble,” he added crossly.
    â€œI was explaining to Amberpaw that she can’t bring wet moss into your den,” Squirrelflight meowed.
    â€œWhat?” Purdy prodded the bundle of moss. “You’re sure you weren’t tryin’ to bring me a drink instead?” he asked Amberpaw.
    The apprentice looked crestfallen. “I was only trying tohelp.”
    â€œSure you were, young ’un.” Purdy stroked Amberpaw’s side with his tail. “Come on. You an’ I will spread the moss out here, just outside the den, an’ it’ll soon dry in the sun. An’ while it does that, I’ll tell you how I once killed a whole nest o’ rats.”
    â€œYes!” Amberpaw bounced in delight and began spreading out the wet moss.
    On the other side of the clearing, Sandstorm headed out of the camp, pushing a huge bundle of used bedding in front of her. Bramblestar slid into the nursery and began helping Daisy scratch together the next bundle.
    â€œHave you heard anything about new kits?” he asked hopefully.
    Daisy shook her head. “No, but I’m sure we’ll need the nursery soon, now that newleaf is here.” She paused, then added, “Come and look.”
    She led Bramblestar out of the nursery and pointed with her tail to where Lionblaze and Cinderheart were sharing tongues in a patch of sunlight. “That one will be expecting soon,” Daisy mewed, twitching her ears at Cinderheart.
    Bramblestar felt a flash of excitement. He remembered play fighting with Lionblaze as a kit outside the nursery, and how he had taught him his first pounce. In spite of all that’s happened, I couldn’t have loved those three kits more