Free Dovewing's Silence by Erin Hunter Page A

Hervoice rose in despair and Dovewing felt a surge of sympathy, and guilt for doubting her.
    â€œI’ll help you,” she mewed, her voice cracking with emotion. She pressed against Blossomfall’s flank in silent apology, then began picking over the loose, damp earth. To her relief, she uncovered a few tiny green stalks still bearing leaves. “Do you think these will help?” she asked Blossomfall.
    The warrior nodded. “Bite them off carefully,” she instructed. “Leave the roots so they can keep growing.”
    With a small harvest of stems, they headed back to the camp. “I’m sorry,” Dovewing meowed around her mouthful. “I shouldn’t have doubted you.”
    Blossomfall stopped and put down her little burden. “I’d probably have done the same,” she admitted. “Joining the Dark Forest was the biggest mistake I could have made. I . . . I’m not sure I can forgive myself.”
    Dovewing leaned over and pressed her muzzle against Blossomfall’s shoulder. “You have to,” she murmured. “For all our sakes. We have to move on from what happened, and find new ways to be strong.” Her words fell like stones into the cold air. Does that include me learning to live without my senses? she wondered. Just like Blossomfall, I feel as if I can’t forgive myself if I am losing them. How will I serve my Clan now?

C HAPTER 9
    Dovewing paused to catch her breath before dragging her prey—a female blackbird, her brown feathers stained with blood after a rather messy catch—through the barrier of thorns. A quarter moon had passed since she and Blossomfall searched for catmint, and more cats had fallen ill. Two sunrises ago, Littlecloud had visited the camp to ask if Jayfeather and Leafpool could spare any catmint for sick ShadowClan cats, so it was clear the sickness had spread beyond ThunderClan’s territory. Graystripe appeared behind Dovewing carrying a vole.
    â€œAre you okay, Dovewing?” he asked, laying the vole at his feet.
    â€œFine,” Dovewing meowed. She picked up the blackbird and started to push through the gap in the thorns. She emerged to see Rosepetal placing her catch, a young rabbit, on the fresh-kill pile. Bramblestar padded over to watch the hunting patrol return.
    â€œWell done,” he purred. “I know it’s hard to keep the fresh-kill pile stocked when there are fewer warriors able to hunt, but we have to do everything we can to feed the Clan. If we’re hungry, we’re more likely to get sick.”
    Dovewing looked anxiously at the leader’s bony haunches and the hollows above his eyes. She doubted that Bramblestar was taking his fair share from the pile, letting his Clanmates eat the best of the fresh-kill instead. Brightheart was the last to emerge from the thorns, stumbling over a thrush that hung from her jaws. She had left her kits in Daisy’s care in order to help with hunting patrols, even though she was exhausted and thin from feeding Sorreltail’s kits as well as her own.
    She was followed closely by Leafpool, Berrynose, and Poppyfrost, who each carried a bundle of tightly wrapped leaves. Jayfeather came to meet them in the center of the clearing, and Briarlight dragged herself over to help unroll the parcels.
    â€œDid you find any catmint?” Jayfeather asked, his voice taut with worry.
    Berrynose shook his head. “We tried all the places you suggested,” he meowed. “There was nothing but dead stalks. Sorry.”
    Jayfeather twitched his ears. “It’s not your fault.”
    â€œLeafpool said this might help, though,” mewed Poppyfrost, nudging her bundle toward Jayfeather so he could sniff it.
    â€œIt’s fennel,” Leafpool explained. “I know we usually use it to treat vomiting, but I’ve seen it help cats who are having trouble breathing.”
    Jayfeather nodded. “Good idea. Hawkweed could be helpful