The Fourth Apprentice
Erin Hunter
Omen of the Stars
Warriors
The Fourth Apprentice
Erin Hunter
Contents
Allegiances
Map
Prologue
Water poured over the lip of the rock in a…
Chapter 1
A full moon floated in a cloudless sky, casting thick…
Chapter 2
Jayfeather picked through the herbs in the storage cave at…
Chapter 3
Dovekit wriggled with excitement as Whitewing’s tongue rasped around her…
Chapter 4
Lionblaze halted in the center of the clearing and let…
Chapter 5
A paw clipping against her ear woke Dovepaw; keeping her…
Chapter 6
Dovepaw followed Lionblaze through the thorn tunnel and into the…
Chapter 7
Jayfeather winced at Dovepaw’s dismay as she learned that she…
Chapter 8
Lionblaze pushed his way through the thorn tunnel and padded…
Chapter 9
Lionblaze gazed up at the full moon hanging above the…
Chapter 10
As soon as Jayfeather woke on the morning after the…
Chapter 11
Dovepaw stood on the rocks at the mouth of the…
Chapter 12
With the gazes of all four deputies on them, the…
Chapter 13
Lionblaze cast sidelong glances at Dovepaw as she padded beside…
Chapter 14
As soon as the thorn barrier stopped quivering after Brambleclaw,…
Chapter 15
A dry, dusty breeze swept over Dovepaw, rattling the branches…
Chapter 16
Lionblaze heard panic in his apprentice’s wail and saw the…
Chapter 17
Jayfeather lifted his head and tasted the air, which had…
Chapter 18
Dovepaw felt her pelt stand on end with excitement as…
Chapter 19
Lionblaze led the patrol away from the water and into…
Chapter 20
What in the name of StarClan made her come all…
Chapter 21
Lionblaze and Toadfoot lowered Rippletail’s body into the hole they…
Chapter 22
Lionblaze jumped up onto the bank of the stream and…
Chapter 23
Jayfeather groaned as he forced his eyes open on darkness.
Chapter 24
Dovepaw sank her claws into a branch as the wave…
Chapter 25
The daylight grew stronger as the cats headed back through…
Chapter 26
“What’s happening?” Berrynose poked his head into the entrance of…
Acknowledgments
Warriors Adventure Game
Fever Dreams
After the Adventure
About the Author
Other Books by Erin Hunter
Credits
Copyright
About the Publisher
ALLEGIANCES
THUNDERCLAN
LEADER
FIRESTAR—ginger tom with a flame-colored pelt
DEPUTY
BRAMBLECLAW—dark brown tabby tom with amber eyes
MEDIGINE GAT
JAYFEATHER—gray tabby tom
WARRIORS
(toms and she-cats without kits)
GRAYSTRIPE—long-haired gray tom
DUSTPELT—dark brown tabby tom
SANDSTORM—pale ginger she-cat with green eyes
BRACKENFUR—golden brown tabby tom
SORRELTAIL—tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat with amber eyes
CLOUDTAIL—long-haired white tom with blue eyes
BRIGHTHEART—white she-cat with ginger patches
THORNCLAW—golden brown tabby torm APPRENTICE, BRIARPAW
SQUIRRELFLIGHT—dark ginger she-cat with green eyes
LEAFPOOL—light brown tabby she-cat with amber eyes, former medicine cat
SPIDERLEG—long-limbed black tom with brown underbelly and amber eyes
BIRCHFALL—light brown tabby tom
BERRYNOSE—cream-colored tom
HAZELTAIL—small gray-and-white she-cat
APPRENTICE, BLOSSOMPAW
MOUSEWHISKER—gray-and-white tom
APPRENTICE, BUMBLEPAW
CINDERHEART—gray tabby she-cat
LIONBLAZE—golden tabby tom
FOXLEAP—reddish tabby tom
ICECLOUD—white she-cat
TOADSTEP—black-and-white tom
ROSEPETAL—dark cream she-cat
APPRENTICES
(more than six moons old, in training to become warriors)
BRIARRAW—dark brown she-cat
BLOSSOMPAW—tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat
BUMBLEPAW—very pale gray tom with black stripes
QUEENS
(she-cats expecting or nursing kits)
FERNCLOUD—pale gray (with darker flecks) she-cat with green eyes
DAISY—cream long-furred cat from the
WHITEWING—white she-cat with green eyes, mother of Birchfall’s kits: Dovekit (gray she-cat) and Ivvkit (white tabby she–cat)
POPPYFROST—tortoiseshell she-cat, expecting Berrynose’s kits
ELDERS
(former warriors and queens, now retired)
LONGTAIL—pale tabby tom with dark black stripes, retired early due to failing sight
MOUSEFUR—small dusky brown she-cat
PURDY—plump tabby former loner with a gray muzzle
SHADOWCLAN
LEADER
BLACKSTAR—large white tom with huge jet black paws
DEPUTY
RUSSETFUR—dark ginger she-cat
MEDICINE CAT
LITTLECLOUD—very small tabby tom
APPRENTICE, FLAMETAIL (ginger tom)
WARRIORS
OAKFUR—small brown tom
APPRENTICE, FERRETPAW (cream-and-gray tom)
ROWANCLAW—ginger tom
SMOKEFOOT—black tom
TOADFOOT—dark brown tom
APPLEFUR—mottled brown she-cat
CROWFROST—black-and-white tom
RATSCAR—brown tom with long scar across his back
APPRENTICE, PINEPAW (black she-cat)
SNOWBIRD—pure-white she-cat
TAWNYPELT—tortoiseshell she-cat with green eyes
APPRENTICE, STARLINGPAW (ginger tom)
OLIVENOSE—tortoiseshell she-cat
OWLCLAW—light brown tabby tom
SHREWFOOT—gray she-cat with black feet
SCORCHFUR—dark gray tom
REDWILLOW—mottled brown-and-ginger tom
TIGERHEART—dark brown tabby tom
DAWNPELT—cream-furred she-cat
QUEENS
KINKFUR—tabby she-cat with long fur that sticks out at all angles
IVYTAIL—black, white, and tortoiseshell she-cat
ELDERS
CEDARHEART—dark gray tom
TALLPOPPY—long-legged light brown tabby she-cat
SNAKETAIL—dark brown tom with tabby-striped tail
WHITEWATER—white she-cat with long fur, blind in one eye
WINDCLAN
LEADER
ONESTAR—brown tabby tom
DEPUTY
ASHFOOT—gray she-cat
MEDICINE CAT
KESTRELFLIGHT—mottled gray tom
WARRIORS
CROWFEATHER—dark gray tom
OWLWHISKER—light brown tabby torn
APPRENTICE, WHISKERPAW (lightbrown tom)
WHITETAIL—small white she-cat
NIGHTCLOUD—bla
ck she-cat
GORSETAIL—very pale gray-and-white tom with blue eyes
WEASELFUR—ginger tom with white paws
HARESPRING—brown-and-white tom
LEAFTAIL—dark tabby tom with amber eyes
ANTPELT—brown tom with one black ear
EMBERFOOT—gray tom with two dark paws
HEATHERTAIL—light brown tabby she-cat with blue eyes
APPRENTICE, FURZEPAW (gray-and-white she-cat)
BREEZEPELT—black tom with amber eyes APPRENTICE, BOULDERPAW (large pale gray tom)
SEDGEWHISKER—light brown tabby she-cat
SWALLOWTAIL—dark gray she-cat
SUNSTRIKE—tortoiseshell she-cat with large white mark on her forehead
ELDERS
WEBFOOT—dark gray tabby tom
TORNEAR—tabby tom
RIVERCLAN
LEADER
LEOPARDSTAR—unusually spotted golden tabby she-cat
DEPUTY
MISTYFOOT—gray she-cat with blue eyes
MEDICINE CAT
MOTHWING—dappled golden she-cat
APPRENTICE, WILLOWSHINE (gray tabby she-cat)
WARRIORS
REEDWHISKER—black torn
APPRENTICE, HOLLOWPAW (dark brown tabby tom)
RIPPLETAIL—dark gray tabby tom
GRAYMIST—pale gray tabby she-cat
APPRENTICE, TROUTPAW (pale gray tabby she-cat)
MINTFUR—light gray tabby tom
ICEWING—white she-cat with blue eyes
MINNOWTAIL—dark gray she-cat
APPRENTICE, MOSSYPAW (brown-and-white she-cat)
PEBBLEFOOT—mottled gray tom
APPRENTICE, RUSHPAW (light brown tabby tom)
MALLOWNOSE—light brown tabby tom
ROBINWING—tortoiseshell-and-white tom
BEETLEWHISKER—brown-and-white tabby tom
PETALFUR—gray-and-white she-cat
GRASSPELT—light brown tom
QUEENS
DUSKFUR—brown tabby she-cat
MOSSPELT—tortoiseshell she-cat with blue eyes
ELDERS
BLACKCLAW—smoky black tom
VOLETOOTH—small brown tabby tom
DAWNFLOWER—pale gray she-cat
DAPPLENOSE—mottled gray she-cat
POUNCETAIL—ginger-and-white tom
CATS OUTSIDE CLANS
SMOKY—muscular gray-and-white tom who lives in a barn at the horseplace
FLOSS—small gray-and-white she-cat who lives at the horseplace
OTHER ANIMALS
MIDNIGHT—a star-gazing badger who lives by the sea
Map
PROLOGUE
Water poured over the lip of the rock in a smooth curve and roared down into a chasm. Far below, it tumbled and foamed into a pool. The rays of the setting sun set a myriad of trapped rainbows dancing in the spray.
Three cats sat on the edge of the river just upstream of the waterfall. They watched as a fourth cat approached, stalking delicately across the shaggy moss that covered the riverbank. Starlight sparkled at her paws and misted on her gray-blue fur.
The newcomer halted and raked the waiting cats with an icy blue stare. “In the name of all Clans, why did you choose to meet here?” she demanded, irritably shaking one forepaw. “It’s far too wet, and I can’t hear myself think.”
Another she-cat, with ragged gray fur, rose to face her. “Stop complaining, Bluestar. I chose this place because it’s damp and noisy. I have things to say that I don’t want any other cat to overhear.”
A golden tabby tom beckoned with his tail. “Come and sit by me. There’s a dry spot just here.”
Bluestar padded across to him and sat down with a contemptuous sniff. “If this is dry, Lionheart, then I’m a mouse.” Turning to the gray she-cat, she added, “Well, Yellowfang? What is it?”
“The prophecy has not been fulfilled,” Yellowfang meowed. “The Three have come together at last, but two of the cats might not recognize the third.”
“Are you sure we’ve got the right Three this time?” Bluestar asked sharply.
“You know we have.” The speaker, a beautiful tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat, dipped her head gently toward the cat who had been her Clan leader. “Didn’t we all have the same dream on the night the One was born?”
Bluestar flicked the tip of her tail. “You could be right, Spottedleaf. But so much has gone wrong that it’s hard to trust anything now.”
“Of course she’s right.” Yellowfang twitched her ears. “But if Jayfeather and Lionblaze don’t recognize the One, there could be more trouble. I want to send them a sign.”
“What?” Bluestar rose to her paws again, waving her tail commandingly as if she still held authority over the old medicine cat. “Yellowfang, have you forgotten that this prophecy isn’t even ours? It could be dangerous to interfere with it. I think we should leave it alone.”
Spottedleaf blinked, puzzled. “Dangerous?”
“Do you think it’s a good idea to have cats in the Clans who are more powerful than the stars?” Bluestar challenged, facing each cat in turn. “More powerful than us, their warrior ancestors?” She swept her tail in a gesture to include her unseen Clanmates, who were elsewhere in the beautiful, prey-filled forest. “What will become of ThunderClan if—”
“Have faith, Bluestar,” Lionheart interrupted gently. “These are good and loyal cats.”
“We thought that about Hollyleaf!” Bluestar retorted.
“We won’t be wrong again,” Yellowfang mewed. “Wherever the prophecy came from, we have to trust it. And we have to trust our Clanmates beside the lake.”
Spottedleaf opened her jaws to speak, only to turn sharply at the sound of another cat brushing through the undergrowth a few fox-lengths farther upstream. A silver-furred she-cat burst out into the open and raced toward them, starlight swirling around her.
“Feathertail!” Bluestar exclaimed. “What are you doing here? Are you spying on us?”
“We’re all Clanmates now,” the former RiverClan warrior reminded her. “I guessed why you were meeting, and—”
“This is ThunderClan business, Feathertail,” Yellowfang pointed out, with just a hint of her sharp yellow teeth.
“No, it’s not!” Feathertail flashed back at her. “Jayfeather and Lionblaze are half WindClan—Crowfeather’s sons.” Her blue eyes filled with distress. “I care about what happens to them. I have to watch over them. And I grieve for Hollyleaf just as much as you do.”
Spottedleaf stretched out her tail to touch the silver she-cat on the shoulder. “She’s right. Let her stay.”
Yellowfang shrugged. “They aren’t your sons, Feathertail,” she cautioned with unexpected gentleness. “We can warn them and guide them, but in the end they will go their own way.”
“All sons and daughters do that, Yellowfang,” Bluestar commented.
For a few heartbeats Yellowfang’s expression darkened, and her amber gaze was fixed on the distance, as if she saw a lifetime of painful memories sketched in the sky. The sun was slipping down below the horizon, the red-streaked clouds fading to indigo. In the pool below the waterfall, the whirling foam shone pale in the shadows.
“So what do we do now?” Lionheart prompted. “Yellowfang, you mentioned sending a sign.”
“I still think we shouldn’t get involved,” Bluestar insisted before Yellowfang could reply. “The third cat is already strong and clever, even if we don’t know what her special power will be. If she’s the right one, won’t she figure everything out by herself?”
“We can’t sit by and do nothing!” Feathertail protested, sinking her claws into the damp ground. “These young cats need our help.”
“I think so, too,” Lionheart agreed with a nod toward the silver she-cat. “If we had meddled more”—he glanced at Bluestar—“Hollyleaf might not have been lost.”
Bluestar’s neck fur bristled. “Hollyleaf made her own choices. These cats have to live their own lives. No cat can d
o it for them.”
“No, but we can guide them,” Spottedleaf meowed. “I agree with Yellowfang. I think we should send a sign.”
“I can see you’ve all made up your minds.” Bluestar sighed, letting her neck fur lie flat again. “Very well, do what you wish.”
“I will send an Omen.” Yellowfang bowed her head; briefly the other cats saw beyond her matted fur and brusque manner to the deep wisdom of the medicine cat she had once been. “An Omen of the Stars.”
