by Erin Hunter
Leafstar stared at Juniperclaw through narrowed eyes for a moment longer, then lashed her tail. “Let’s get back to camp.” She beckoned her Clanmates with a nod and stalked past Juniperclaw. “We’re wasting our time here.”
Violetshine hurried after her. She was relieved to slip into the shadows of the forest. Behind her the dog’s bark rang over the field. Sagenose, Bellaleaf, and Sandynose quickened their pace as Leafstar pushed her way past brambles and disappeared into the undergrowth. As she followed, Violetshine saw Juniperclaw from the corner of her eye. The black tom was moving like a shadow downhill, weaving between the pines as he followed his own route. As she lost sight of him, she felt Tree’s pelt brush her flank.
He padded at her side, his gaze heavy. “I can’t believe that went so badly.”
“It was always going to be hard.” Violetshine’s heart pricked with pity for him.
“But I hardly got a word in.” Tree frowned. “I wanted them to begin to understand each other’s point of view, but they’ve come away more divided than ever.”
“I think they both came to the meeting determined to be angrier than the other one,” Violetshine soothed. “There was nothing you could do.”
“I should have made them listen to me.”
“How could you when both sides are so stubborn?” Violetshine moved closer to the yellow tom, hoping that the warmth of her flank against his would give him comfort, but he seemed lost in his own thoughts.
Voices sounded over the rise ahead. Leafstar and the other warriors had stopped and were talking heatedly. Violetshine hurried up the slope to join them.
“The time for talking is over.” Leafstar paced in front of Bellaleaf and Sandynose, while Harrybrook and Sagenose watched. The warriors’ gazes were hard with indignation.
“Imagine sending his deputy to such an important meeting!” Sagenose growled.
Harrybrook’s hackles lifted. “He had no intention of trying to settle the dispute.”
Leafstar flexed her claws. “There’ll be no more talking. I want border patrols doubled, and if any ShadowClan cat crosses the border, we retaliate immediately.”
Tree stopped beside Violetshine and stared at the warriors. “Give me more time. I’m sure we can settle this without claws,” he meowed.
Leafstar met his gaze fiercely. “We don’t have time. Every ShadowClan patrol that crosses our border makes us look weaker.”
Tree’s ears flicked with frustration. “It was your idea to make me mediator for the Clans,” he reminded her sharply. “Why give me the role if you won’t let me mediate?”
“I overestimated the other Clans,” Leafstar growled. “They’re so used to fighting, they’ve forgotten how to talk. Tigerstar clearly wants a battle. When we first came to the lake, I thought that the other Clans just gossiped about ShadowClan out of spite. . . . But I see now that ShadowClan cats are fox-hearts. I can see why Rowanclaw gave up on them. And why some of their warriors chose to follow Darktail. They are natural troublemakers. Well, if they want war, they’ll get one.”
“Fighting isn’t the answer,” Tree insisted.
Leafstar shook her head. “Can’t you see that it is? Fighting is the way things are done around here, Tree. It’s not just ShadowClan—none of the lake Clans think like us. They train their warriors to fight, not to talk. If we want to keep our territory, we have to be like them. If we don’t fight for what we believe in, the other Clans won’t ever respect us, and it won’t just be ShadowClan pushing us around, don’t you see?”
Violetshine felt Tree slump with disappointment beside her. “What about the plan Tigerstar suggested at the Gathering?” she mewed quickly. “Where each Clan gives up a smaller part of their territory, instead of just ShadowClan.” She gazed hopefully at Leafstar.
Leafstar grunted. “Didn’t you notice how the other Clans responded to that idea? They couldn’t get off the island quickly enough.”
Sandynose blinked sympathetically at Violetshine. “We just have to accept that the other Clans don’t want to help us.”
Bellaleaf sat down heavily. “We’re on our own, just as we’ve always been.”
Tree flicked his tail angrily. “Then why am I wasting my time here?” Ears twitching, the yellow tom stalked away.
Violetshine could see how hurt he was. His pelt rippled spikily over his shoulders as he slumped down beside the roots of a pine with his back to the SkyClan cats. Is he wondering whether he made a mistake? Perhaps he’s wishing he’d never stayed with us. The thought sent alarm prickling through Violetshine’s pelt. Tree had given up his solitary life to offer help that wasn’t wanted. Tree wasn’t a proud cat, but the Clans’ rejection of his skills must sting even him. Would he decide to return to his life as a loner?
Leafstar beckoned to Violetshine with a flick of her tail. “Leave him.” The SkyClan leader must have noticed her watching the yellow tom. “He looks like he needs space. He’ll realize soon enough that we have no other choice.”
Violetshine blinked at the SkyClan leader, her heart aching for Tree. He wouldn’t give up on his beliefs so easily. And yet, even though she felt sorry for Tree, she understood Leafstar’s point of view. Tigerstar had offered nothing but insults to SkyClan, and the other Clans hadn’t defended them. It looked like SkyClan was as isolated here as it had been at the gorge, and that if they wanted to keep their territory beside the lake, they’d have to fight for it.
“Come on.” Leafstar headed downhill. “Let’s go home.”
Violetshine followed Harrybrook and Bellaleaf into camp. The sun had set, and twilight darkened the shadows beneath the camp walls. Their Clanmates were sharing tongues around the clearing. Suddenly she smelled the faint scent of ThunderClan. She pricked her ears, thinking instantly of Twigbranch. Had her sister found an excuse to visit?
Leafstar clearly caught the scent too. As Sagenose and Sandynose headed toward the fresh-kill pile, the SkyClan leader stopped and looked around the camp, her nose twitching.
Hawkwing padded from the fresh-kill pile to meet her. “How did it go?” His voice was low. Leafstar hadn’t told the whole Clan about the meeting.
Leafstar flicked her tail. “Tigerstar didn’t come.”
“He sent Juniperclaw.” Bellaleaf stopped beside the leader.
Harrybrook swished his tail. “He wasn’t interested in talking. He just wanted to repeat what Tigerstar had said at the Gathering.”
Hawkwing frowned. “Tigerstar is determined to make our lives difficult.”
“It’s disrespectful! Especially after the kindness we’ve shown to ShadowClan. We let them live with us, for StarClan’s sake!” Irritation rippled through Leafstar’s pelt. Her nose twitched again and she glanced toward the medicine den. “Is a ThunderClan cat here?”
Violetshine followed her gaze eagerly. The ThunderClan scent was definitely stronger there. Her heart began to quicken hopefully, but as she tasted the air she realized that the scent didn’t smell like Twigbranch.
“Finleap is back,” Hawkwing told her.
Violetshine widened her eyes. “Back?” Had he left ThunderClan for good?
“He’s come to visit Reedclaw,” Hawkwing explained. “He’d heard she was sick.”
As he spoke, the medicine den trembled and Finleap squeezed out. His eyes brightened as he saw Violetshine. “Hi!”
Leafstar glowered at the young tom as he trotted to meet the patrol. “How’s Reedclaw?” she asked curtly.
Finleap seemed taken aback by her sharp tone. He stopped, his ears twitching. “She’s almost well again,” he told her.
“Did Bramblestar say you could come?” Leafstar’s fur bristled.
He dropped his gaze, “He doesn’t know I’m here.”
“You slipped away without telling your leader and crossed the border into another Clan’s territory?” Leafstar sounded angry.
Violetshine moved closer to Finleap. “He’s only come to visit his kin.”
“He left his kin when he left SkyClan,” Leaf
star snapped.
As Harrybrook and Bellaleaf exchanged glances, indignation surged in Violetshine’s chest. “He can’t stop caring about them just because he lives somewhere else now!” Did Leafstar think she and Hawkwing had stopped caring about Twigbranch? She blinked at Hawkwing, hoping he’d support her.
Hawkwing retuned her gaze sympathetically. “Of course he stills cares for them. But he lives in a different Clan now. He must respect his new leader and our borders.”
Hurt sharpened Finleap’s gaze. “I do respect Bramblestar.” He blinked at Leafstar. “And I’ll always respect you. But I was worried about Reedclaw. I’ve never been away while she was ill before.”
Leafstar seemed unmoved by his plea. “Being worried is no excuse for breaking the warrior code.”
Finleap’s shoulders sagged. “I’ll go home, then.”
“Not now, you won’t,” Leafstar meowed firmly. “You can wait until morning, when a patrol will escort you back to ThunderClan and explain what happened.”
Violetshine’s belly tightened. Why did Leafstar have to make such a fuss? If a patrol escorted him home and reported him to Bramblestar, Finleap would be in trouble with his new Clanmates. “I can take him across the border now,” she offered quietly. “He can slip back without anyone knowing.”
Leafstar glared at her. “Do you want to deceive ThunderClan too? What if you’re caught by a patrol? Don’t you think we have enough trouble with ShadowClan without antagonizing ThunderClan too?” She whisked her tail decisively. “Finleap will stay here tonight. You can both sleep in the apprentices’ den. I expect you to keep an eye on him, Violetshine. If he sneaks away in the night, you will be held responsible.”
Finleap glanced apologetically at Violetshine. He clearly didn’t want to make trouble for her. “I’m sorry,” he whispered.
But Violetshine wasn’t ready to give up. “His new Clanmates will be worried about him if he stays out all night.”
“He should have thought of that before he came here!” Leafstar turned away, the fur lifting along her spine. Growling, she stalked toward the fresh-kill pile.
Bellaleaf blinked kindly at Finleap and followed the SkyClan leader.
“I’m pleased to see you,” Harrybrook whispered before he padded away.
Hawkwing shook his head. “I’m afraid you caught Leafstar at a bad time,” he told Finleap. “But she’s right. You can’t just visit anytime you please. Next time, tell Bramblestar your concerns, and, with any luck, he’ll send you with a patrol to ask permission to come to our camp.”
Finleap dipped his head. “Okay,” he mumbled.
As Hawkwing headed away, Violetshine nudged Finleap’s shoulder with her own. “At least we get to share a den,” she mewed. “It’ll be like old times. And you can tell me your gossip.” She blinked at Finleap, hoping she’d cheered him up. But worry darkened his gaze.
“Twigbranch won’t know where I am.”
“She’ll find out tomorrow.” Were Finleap and her sister mates now? Gently, she guided him across the clearing. “Are you hungry? There’s prey left on the fresh-kill pile.”
Finleap shook his head. “No, thanks,” he murmured.
Gravelpaw and Fringepaw were practicing battle moves beside the apprentices’ den. Palepaw and Pigeonpaw were sharing a mouse beside them, while Sunnypaw watched Fringepaw launch a play attack on Gravelpaw.
“Aim for his forepaws, not his hind paws!” Sunnypaw mewed as Gravelpaw easily knocked Fringepaw away.
Blossomheart was sharing a shrew with Mintfur beside the stream. She called out to the apprentices, “You should rest after a meal, not fight! You’ll give yourselves bellyaches.”
“Warriors get bellyaches, not apprentices!” Pigeonpaw called back.
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Blossomheart’s whiskers twitched as she returned to the shrew.
Palepaw looked up as Finleap and Violetshine passed. “Are you going back to ThunderClan tonight?” she asked Finleap.
Violetshine answered for him. “He’ll go home in the morning.”
“What’s it like being a ThunderClan warrior?” Gravelpaw paused mid-crouch and blinked at Finleap.
“It’s okay,” Finleap told him. “I guess it’s the same as being a SkyClan warrior.”
Gravelpaw tipped his head thoughtfully. “What if we have a battle with ThunderClan?” he asked. “Will we be allowed to fight you?”
Violetshine flicked her tail sharply. “We won’t have a battle with ThunderClan. Not now that we’ve got Tree to keep the peace.” She caught her breath. Do I still believe that? Even if Tree stayed with the Clans, she was no longer sure he could help keep the peace. She pictured him alone in the forest and wondered if he was on his way back to camp yet. She felt guilty for leaving him. Perhaps she should have stayed. What if he never came back? Would anyone care except her?
Worry clawed at her heart, but she couldn’t leave camp now. She had to watch Finleap. Before the apprentices could ask any more difficult questions, Violetshine nudged Finleap into the bramble den. “We’re sleeping here tonight,” she told the apprentices as she ducked in after him. “Don’t keep us awake by chattering like starlings.”
Finleap followed her in and surveyed the nests circled around the central stem. “Where shall I sleep?”
Violetshine sniffed the bedding until she found two nests that smelled stale. “These haven’t been slept in for a while.” She realized with a pang that one of them was Twigbranch’s old nest. Suddenly she missed her sister with a longing she thought had faded. “Is Twigbranch happy in ThunderClan?” she asked as she climbed into it.
“Yes.” Finleap hopped into the nest beside her and sat down. “She seems at home there.”
“Are you?”
“I’m still getting used to it,” Finleap mewed. “But I like being near Twigbranch.” He paused, his gaze unreadable as night swallowed the den. “Although I think I was wrong to assume she wanted the same things as me.”
“What do you mean?” Violetshine blinked at him. “Aren’t you close anymore?”
“We’re still close.” There was sadness in Finleap’s mew.
Violetshine was puzzled. “I thought you’d be mates by now.”
“So did I.” Finleap shifted in his nest. Violetshine could hardly see him in the darkness. “Twigbranch is just focused on her apprentice. She doesn’t want a mate.” Bracken crunched as he settled down. “I’m probably being selfish. Maybe I should be focusing on my apprentice too.”
“Twigbranch was always serious about being a good warrior.” Violetshine kept her mew bright. “I’m sure she loves you.”
“Yeah.”
As her eyes adjusted to the growing darkness, she could see the silhouette of his ears. “Was Reedclaw glad to see you?”
“Yes.” He sounded cheerier. “She’s nearly well enough to leave the medicine den.”
“I didn’t think Leafstar would be so upset about you visiting.”
“Harrybrook and Bellaleaf seemed ruffled too, but I don’t think it was about me coming back. What did Hawkwing mean when he said I’d caught Leafstar at a bad time?”
Worry crept along Violetshine’s spine as she remembered how badly the meeting had gone. They were closer than ever to war with ShadowClan. And Tree had been humiliated. What if he left? The thought made her feel sick.
“Violetshine?” Finleap’s mew jerked her from her thoughts. “Is something wrong in SkyClan?”
“No,” she answered quickly. It felt disloyal to reveal SkyClan’s problems to a ThunderClan warrior, even Finleap. “Everything is fine.” As she blinked into the darkness, her paws pricked anxiously.
She hoped she was telling the truth.
CHAPTER 10
Alderheart’s pelt prickled. He still didn’t feel all that comfortable in ShadowClan’s camp. Even here, alone in the medicine den with Puddleshine, he couldn’t shake the feeling he was being watched. He pressed a small morsel of deathberry to Puddleshine’s lips. When the uncons
cious tom didn’t stir, he gently pried his teeth open and slipped the dark flesh through the gap. Puddleshine didn’t even twitch. His head felt heavy, like dead weight against Alderheart’s paws as he laid it back on the edge of his nest.
The sun had set and evening was fast turning to night. Darkness was pressing at the edges of the medicine den. Puddleshine hadn’t regained consciousness since Juniperclaw and Sparrowtail had carried him back to the ShadowClan camp that morning. His breathing was shallower, and his fur was damp. Heat throbbed from his pelt and flooded Alderheart with fear. Would Puddleshine make it through the night? What would Tigerstar do if the ShadowClan medicine cat died?
Alderheart blinked the thoughts away. The deathberries had to work. The dream had promised that they would. Fire had made way for fresh growth. StarClan wouldn’t mislead him, would they? He pushed the thought away. He mustn’t doubt StarClan. They’d always been with him, he was sure, even before they’d sent him his very first vision, the one that had led him in search of SkyClan.
And yet worry sat like a stone in his belly as he buried the seeds he’d stripped from the berry. When he was sure they were safely disposed of, he scraped leaves from a small patch of earth he’d clawed up at the other side of the den. He wiped his paws in the crumbly dirt until they were clean and then carefully swept the leaves back to cover the poisoned patch. Finally he wrapped the berries back in their dock leaf and tucked them beneath Puddleshine’s nest.
He’d carried the berries to the ShadowClan camp, hidden in a bundle of tansy and marigold. Tigerstar hadn’t forbidden Alderheart from continuing with his treatment, but he hadn’t given permission either. Alderheart didn’t dare ask. He couldn’t risk Tigerstar saying no. The deathberries were his only hope. And yet they still showed no sign of working. He could only wait and pray to StarClan.
Frustration itched beneath his pelt. He felt powerless, and Tigerstar’s threats had made it worse. Didn’t he realize that any cat’s death was punishment enough for a medicine cat? Warriors were so rabbit-brained. They missed what was truly important in their scrabble for power and territory. Outside, he could hear Cloverfoot and Scorchfur murmuring to each other in hushed voices as they guarded the entrance. Tigerstar had ordered them not to leave their posts and promised to keep the medicine den guarded day and night. As if I might run away from a sick cat who needs treatment!