Dovewing's Silence by Erin Hunter Read Free Book Online Page A

Clanmates die because there was nothing I could do to help them.”
    â€œYou can’t bring cats back to life,” Dovewing whispered.
    â€œThen what is the use of having any power at all?” Jayfeather hissed. He bent closer to Foxleap’s belly, running his paw over the dressing. “Go away, Dovewing. Talk to me when I’m not trying to save a warrior’s life. Right now, there is nothing more important than that.”
    Dovewing staggered out of the cave and stood at the edge of the clearing, letting the wind cool her scorched pelt. Something was terribly wrong with Jayfeather, that was for sure. Was it simply that the Clan had lost so many cats? Or did he know something about their powers?
    â€œDovewing?” called a voice from the elder thicket. It was Purdy, peering through rheumy eyes. Now that the nursery had been repaired, Daisy and Brightheart had taken the kits out of the elders’ den. “I think I’ve got a tick on my back, an’ I can’t reach it,” the old tom grumbled.
    â€œOkay, I’ll take a look,” Dovewing mewed. With so few apprentices in the camp, the warriors were sharing duties among themselves. Dovewing knew it was Berrynose’s turn to deal with Purdy but he was out on patrol, and since she washere, she wasn’t going to refuse to help. She followed the tom into the den and waited for him to settle stiffly in his nest.
    â€œOh, that chill’s got into my bones,” he griped as he folded his legs under him.
    â€œDo you want me to find some feathers for your nest?” Dovewing offered.
    Purdy blinked. “Only if you’ve got time. I know you’re all stretched, with so many cats still recoverin’.”
    Dovewing ran her paw over his bony spine, searching for the tick. “Most of us are okay now. Only Foxleap is still in danger.” Purdy grunted as she rubbed against the tick. “Found it!” she declared. “I’ll put some mouse bile on that and it’ll be gone in a flash.” She started to leave but Purdy beckoned her back with his chin.
    â€œThat can wait a while,” he rasped. “Talk to me first. It’s so empty in here without Mousefur.” He stared at the abandoned nest, cold and dusty but still imprinted with the shape of Mousefur’s body. “I miss her so much, you know,” he murmured. “She was a grouchy old fox at times, but she had the best heart. At least she died protectin’ her Clan. It’s what she would have wanted.”
    â€œIt is,” Dovewing agreed.
    â€œSo why does everyone still look so miserable?” Purdy snorted, propping himself up on his front legs. “I go outside an’ it’s like we’re still buryin’ our Clanmates. Have they forgot we drove those blighters out? No Dark Forest cats around here, are there?”
    Dovewing wasn’t sure what to say. “I . . . think we’re allaware of what has been lost,” she stammered.
    â€œAnd what about what we won?” the old cat demanded. “Did Mousefur, did any of ’em, die for nothing? It’s an insult to their memory, that’s what it is, to act like we lost everything.” He slumped back into his nest with a cough. “Sorry, young ’un. I was forgettin’ myself.”
    â€œNo, it’s okay, Purdy,” Dovewing mewed. She reached out her paw and smoothed the tom’s untidy black pelt. “You’re right. We did win, and we should honor our fallen Clanmates by knowing they didn’t die in vain. Now, let me fetch that mouse bile for you.”
    She stood up and squeezed out of the den. Sharp drops of rain splashed onto her pelt, and she ducked her head as she ran back to Jayfeather’s den. She hoped he wouldn’t mind if she helped herself to some bile. As she neared the opening to the cave, a terrible moaning sound stopped her in her tracks.
    â€œFoxleap, no! Not now! I’ve done