Firestar's Quest Read Online Free PDF Page A

didn’t dream again that night, he slept badly, and he still felt tired when he emerged from his den the next morning. He blinked in the strong sunlight to see Ashfur padding across the clearing toward Brambleclaw. “Your vigil’s over,” Firestar heard him meow. “Come on; I’ll find you somewhere to sleep.”
    They disappeared into the warriors’ den while Firestar crossed the clearing and slipped down the fern tunnel that led to Cinderpelt’s den.
    The gray-furred medicine cat was sitting outside the cleft in the rock, turning over some herbs with one paw. Brightheart sat beside her and bent her head forward to give the leaves an interested sniff.
    â€œThis is borage,” Cinderpelt explained. “You should start eating some now, so when your kits come you’ll have plenty of milk.”
    Brightheart licked the herbs up, making a face as she swallowed them. “They taste as bitter as mouse bile. But I don’t mind,” she added hastily. “I want to do my best for my kits.”
    â€œYou’ll be fine,” Cinderpelt assured her. “Come back everymorning for some more herbs, and call me right away if you think the kits are coming. I don’t think it’ll be long now.”
    â€œThanks, Cinderpelt.” Brightheart dipped her head to the medicine cat and padded across the clearing, passing Firestar at the end of the tunnel.
    â€œMake sure you get plenty of rest,” he meowed as she made her way back into the main camp.
    Cinderpelt dusted a few scraps of borage from her paws and limped into the clearing to meet Firestar. Once she had been his apprentice, but an accident beside the Thunderpath had injured her leg and made it impossible for her to be a warrior. Firestar knew how hard it had been for her to give up the future she had always dreamed of; he still blamed himself for not taking better care of her.
    â€œCinderpelt, I have to talk to you,” he began.
    Before the medicine cat could reply, a wail sounded from behind Firestar. “Cinderpelt! Look at my paw!”
    â€œGreat StarClan, what now?” the medicine cat muttered.
    Sorrelpaw, the smallest of the apprentices, lurched into the clearing on three legs, holding out her forepaw. “Look, Cinderpelt!”
    The medicine cat bent her head to examine the paw. Firestar could see that a thorn was driven deep into the pad.
    â€œHonestly, Sorrelpaw,” Cinderpelt mewed, “from the noise you were making I thought a fox must have bitten your paw off. It’s only a thorn.”
    â€œBut it hurts!” the apprentice protested, her amber eyes wide.
    Cinderpelt tutted. “Lie down and hold your paw out.”
    Firestar watched as the medicine cat expertly gripped the shank of the thorn in her teeth and tugged it out. A gush of blood followed it.
    â€œIt’s bleeding!” Sorrelpaw exclaimed.
    â€œSo it is,” Cinderpelt agreed calmly. “Give it a good lick.”
    â€œEvery cat picks up thorns now and again,” Firestar told the apprentice as her tongue rasped busily across her pad. “You’ll probably pick up a good many more before you’re an elder.”
    â€œI know.” Sorrelpaw sprang to her paws again. “Thanks, Cinderpelt. It’s fine now, so I’ll go back to the others. We’re training in the sandy hollow.” Her eyes shone and she flexed her claws. “Sandstorm’s going to show me how to fight foxes !”
    Without waiting for a response she charged off down the fern tunnel.
    Cinderpelt’s blue eyes gleamed. “Sandstorm’s got her paws full with that one,” she commented.
    â€œYou’ve got your paws full yourself,” meowed Firestar. “Is it always this busy?”
    â€œBusy is good,” Cinderpelt replied. “Just as long as there’s no blood being spilled. It’s great, being able to use my skills to care for my Clan.”
    Her eyes shone with