by Erin Hunter
Hawkwing dipped his head respectfully to Leafstar. “When do we go?”
“Now.” The SkyClan leader flicked her tail. “There’s no reason to hesitate. Gather what you need. We leave immediately.”
Frecklewish’s eyes widened. “I don’t know if Sparrowpelt is strong enough to travel.”
“His Clanmates will help him,” Leafstar told her. “The poison is out of his belly. He’ll grow stronger on the journey.”
Frecklewish hesitated. “If he grows tired, we must rest.”
Leafstar nodded. “All right.”
Frecklewish ducked inside her den and began tossing bundles of herbs into the clearing. They were neatly wrapped in leaves and tied with grass. Fidgetflake darted out and picked up a bundle. “Carry this, please.” He dropped it at Harrybrook’s paws and darted back for another as Frecklewish guided Sparrowpelt from the den. The dark tabby tom’s amber eyes were dull, and he moved slowly. Mintfur and Macgyver hurried to help, slipping to either side of him and pressing against him as he headed toward the entrance.
Plumwillow padded to the fresh-kill pile. Sadness darkened her gaze as she picked up a mouse left from last night and began to head for the entrance. Sagenose grabbed a sparrow and followed her.
Violetshine’s paws felt frozen to the earth. She pressed her muzzle against Tree’s cheek. “Please keep an eye on Twigbranch.”
“I’ll do what I can,” he promised.
“We must always remember each other.”
“I could never forget you.” His eyes clouded with grief.
“I love you.” As she tore away from him, Violetshine’s heart seemed to split. She hurried after her Clanmates as they headed out of camp. Hawkwing gently took the mouse from Plumwillow. She nodded her thanks and caught up to Sandynose.
“Don’t dawdle.” Reedclaw hurried Quailpaw and Sunnypaw onward as they paused to look back at the camp.
Nectarpaw bounced around Harrybrook. “Is it far?” she mewed excitedly.
“Far enough,” he told her. “Calm down. You’ll need your energy for the journey.”
Violetshine blinked back sorrow. She was following her Clan away from the two cats she loved best. A lump lodged in her throat as she pictured Tree alone in the deserted camp, but she didn’t look back. She had made her decision.
SkyClan was leaving the lake.
CHAPTER 16
The wind had changed. In the hours since dawn the sky had grown darker. Now rain pattered softly on the roof of the medicine den. Peering from the entrance, Alderheart looked through the haze at the empty clearing. The cats of ShadowClan were sheltering in their dens. Damp pine scent washed his muzzle as he watched rivulets running around the edge. The puddle beside the elders’ den had swollen.
He fluffed his fur against the cold and turned back inside. Crossing the den, he sniffed the patch where he’d buried the deathberry seeds. He’d sifted through it while Puddleshine and Grassheart had been sleeping and had found seeds mixed with the soil, but it was impossible to tell if any were missing.
“Are you still worrying about them?” Puddleshine sat up in his nest. His pelt was slick from a thorough wash.
Alderheart had told him about the Gathering. “Frecklewish said they’d poisoned Sparrowpelt.”
Grassheart shifted stiffly in her nest. “A ShadowClan warrior would never poison another cat. We’re warriors, not fox-hearts. We settle arguments with our claws.”
“I know.” Alderheart couldn’t believe that ShadowClan would use poison to harm another Clan. The warrior code wouldn’t permit such slyness, and he’d spent long enough in the ShadowClan camp to see for himself that they were as honorable as any other Clan. And yet the coincidence nagged at him.
“Is SkyClan really going to leave?” Grassheart’s question distracted him from his thoughts.
“Leafstar promised she’d think about it, but the Clans didn’t say anything to make her want to stay.” His belly tightened. Please, StarClan. Let her decide to stay.
“I can’t believe the leaders didn’t take your vision seriously.” Puddleshine climbed out of his nest.
“Nor can I.” Alderheart sniffed the ShadowClan medicine cat’s wounds. They were healing fast, and there was no sign of fever. “Five medicine cats shared the same vision. How much more proof do they need before they will act?”
“What can they do?” Grassheart looked puzzled. “Tigerstar can’t abandon our claim to territory. We need more space to hunt. As long as SkyClan keeps our land, ShadowClan will always face the threat of hunger.”
“Some Clan has to give SkyClan territory,” Puddleshine argued. “Is it too much to ask each of us to donate a little? At least the burden will be shared.”
Alderheart wasn’t sure Leafstar would like to hear SkyClan called a burden, but he agreed that it wasn’t fair to ask ShadowClan alone to give land to SkyClan. “If only the other leaders were willing to compromise.”
“Leafstar could have compromised,” Grassheart pointed out. “She could have agreed to let ShadowClan hunt on SkyClan’s land.”
Puddleshine frowned. “Two Clans chasing the same prey could never work.”
Alderheart’s paws felt heavy. There seemed no way to find space for SkyClan beside the lake and keep peace between the Clans.
A shadow moved at the entrance. Alderheart’s paws sparked with anxiety as Tigerstar padded into the den. Are you accusing ShadowClan of using your seeds to poison Sparrowpelt? Tigerstar’s words rang in his head as he dipped his head in greeting. “Hi.” Was the ShadowClan leader still angry with him?
“Hi.” Tigerstar shook rain from his pelt and glanced around the den. “How are your patients today?”
Alderheart shifted his paws. “Grassheart’s wound is healing well. There’s no sign of infection, and Puddleshine—”
Tigerstar cut him off. “I can see Puddleshine is looking much better. You’ve done great work here, Alderheart. ShadowClan will always be grateful to you for tending to our medicine cat and taking such good care of our Clanmates while he’s been ill.” Tigerstar’s piercing gaze swung toward him. There was no sign of anger, but the dark tabby’s tone was brisk as he went on. “I think it’s time you went home. Puddleshine looks well enough to take up his duties once more.”
“I am.” Puddleshine lifted his chin.
“Good.” Tigerstar kept his gaze on Alderheart. “Are you ready to leave?”
“Yes.” Alderheart blinked at him. Was Tigerstar throwing him out?
“Your Clan must miss you. I’m sure they’ll be glad to have you back.” Tigerstar glanced toward the entrance, where rain dripped from the brambles. “You can wait out the rain if you like.”
“Thanks, but I’d like to get home as soon as possible.” Alderheart didn’t care whether Tigerstar wanted him to leave. His heart felt suddenly light as he realized that he was no longer responsible for ShadowClan. He was going home. He nodded to Puddleshine. “Take care of yourself.”
Puddleshine dipped his head. “Thanks, Alderheart. You saved my life.”
“You would’ve have done the same for me.”
As Puddleshine gazed at him warmly, Grassheart sat up. “Thanks for taking care of me.”
“I’m glad I could help.” Alderheart signaled to Puddleshine with a flick of his tail. “I put marigold on Grassheart’s wound this morning. She’ll need fresh ointment tonight.”
“I’ll see to it.”
Tigerstar didn’t move as Alderheart padded to the den entrance. “Do you need a patrol to escort you?”
“No, thanks.” Alderheart slipped outside. There was someplace he wanted to go before he headed home, and he didn’t want a ShadowClan patrol watching. He hurried through the rain, surprised as he saw Berryheart duck out of the nursery.
“Are you leaving?” She blinked at him, raindrops collecting on her whiskers.
“Yes.” Alderheart halted. “Puddleshine’s well again.”
Dovewing slid out. “Thank you for taking care of Shadowkit.”
“And Hollowkit,” Berryheart chimed in.
“Keep him out of this rain,” Alderheart told her.
“I will.” As Berryheart spoke, Shadowkit hurried from the den.
“Are you leaving?” He stared at Alderheart with round eyes.
“Yes.” Alderheart tipped his head, disappointed at leaving the young tom.
“But I was going to help you in the medicine den later.”
Sadness pricked Alderheart’s belly as he saw the kit’s eyes dull. He hated letting Shadowkit down. “You can help Puddleshine,” he told him. “I’m sure he’ll appreciate it.”
Shadowkit looked crestfallen. “But I like helping you.”
Dovewing scooped the kit close with her tail. “Alderheart has to go. His Clan needs him.”
“But what if I have another vision?”
Alderheart saw Dovewing’s eyes darken. “Your mother knows what to do,” he soothed, hearing his voice sound confident, while feeling a faint tingle of uncertainty in his belly. He still hadn’t gotten to the bottom of Shadowkit’s last vision, but it certainly sounded ominous. “Be careful,” he called as he headed for the camp entrance. “Stay in camp. Don’t forget that visions are sent to guide us.”
He ducked through the thorn tunnel and hurried into the forest. If the young tom had developed a connection to StarClan, that surely meant that everything was going to be fine. So why don’t I feel more at ease? he asked himself as he headed for the SkyClan border.
By the time he crossed it, rain had seeped deep into his fur. Raindrops collected on his whiskers as he followed a rabbit trail toward the SkyClan camp. He had to find out what Leafstar had decided. No cat would stop him. It would be easy to persuade a patrol that he was on his way to see Frecklewish. Even the toughest warrior would think twice about sending a medicine cat away.
SkyClan’s scent was faint. Perhaps the rain had washed away their markers. He tasted the air as the bramble wall of the camp appeared beyond a rise, hoping to find stronger SkyClan scents here, but he could barely detect their musk through the damp tang of the forest. Worry wormed beneath his pelt. Surely they wouldn’t leave without saying good-bye? He’d known Violetshine longer than anyone else had known her. He’d been the one to find her as a kit and bring her to the Clans. He liked to think she wouldn’t go without seeing him first. He pressed back grief and pricked his ears hopefully as he listened for the sounds of Clan life. He heard the pattering of paws. An apprentice? He halted and scanned the forest. A squirrel flashed across the trail and disappeared among the brambles. He frowned. It was unusual to find such easy prey close to a Clan camp. He hurried to the entrance and ducked inside.
The clearing was empty. Were the SkyClan cats sheltering from the rain? He padded quickly to the warriors’ den and peered inside. Stale scent washed his nose. He ducked out and scanned the camp, unease creeping in his belly. The dens were torn. Brambles scattered the ground. The camp was in ruins. The ShadowClan raid had been thorough. The vision of saplings standing against the storm flashed in his mind. SkyClan wasn’t hiding from the rain; they were gone.
His heart lurched. The vision was coming true. Fear flashed beneath his pelt. He remembered how angry Leafstar had been at the Gathering. And now, after ShadowClan has tried to murder one of our Clanmates, you make excuses. Had ShadowClan really tried to kill a SkyClan cat? Surely not. They were honorable warriors, not fox-hearts. And yet Frecklewish had found deathberry seeds in Sparrowpelt’s vomit. And Violetshine had seen Juniperclaw tampering with SkyClan prey. Neither cat would lie.
Thoughts whirling, he scurried through the rain to the medicine den and ducked inside. Herb smells mingled with the stale scent of sickness. He glanced around, not sure what he was looking for. Violetshine had seen Juniperclaw beside the fresh-kill pile. Alderheart hunched his shoulders against the rain and padded around the edge of the clearing. He sniffed the ground, searching for fresh-kill scents, stopping when he smelled traces of a mouse. They were faint, half washed away by the rain, but blood stained the earth here, and deeper musky prey-scents seeped from the soil. This must be where SkyClan stored fresh-kill. He scouted the ground around the patch, looking for clues. ShadowClan scent? He halted and opened his mouth, drawing the smell over his tongue. Focusing, he followed the faint trail toward the camp wall. Here, sheltered from the rain, the scent was stronger. It was definitely ShadowClan. He ran his paw over the wet earth. It was smoothed by paw prints. Crouching, he peered beneath the tangled stems of the bramble. His paws pricked as he saw seeds scattered on the ground. Reaching in, he pulled them out. He recognized them at once. Deathberry seeds. He smelled ShadowClan scent on them. His hackles lifted.
It was true.
ShadowClan had brought deathberry seeds to the SkyClan camp!
Juniperclaw? Surely not . . . he was the ShadowClan deputy. Violetshine must have been mistaken. Or perhaps she’d seen Juniperclaw after another warrior had planted the seeds. A chill reached through his fur. Had Tigerstar ordered one of his Clanmates to leave deathberry seeds here? Was this his plan to drive SkyClan away?
Alderheart straightened, shock pulsing beneath his pelt. Tigerstar wouldn’t be so cruel. He was fierce, but he was a warrior.
But they’re all warriors. Alderheart had lived among ShadowClan. They were not so different from ThunderClan. He couldn’t believe any of them capable of such malice. And yet some cat had brought deadly seeds into SkyClan.
Quickly he buried them so that no creature could pick them up accidentally, and headed back to ThunderClan. Bramblestar should know what he’d found.
“Alderheart!” Sparkpelt was the first to see him as he ducked through the ThunderClan camp entrance. She raced across the clearing, her paws sending up spray as she splashed over the slick earth, and rubbed her muzzle along his cheek. “Are you back for good?”
“Yes.” Alderheart blinked at her distractedly, barely seeing his littermate. His thoughts were racing. He had to tell Bramblestar about SkyClan and the seeds.
She stiffened. “What’s happened?”
“SkyClan is gone.”
Sparkpelt shrugged. “Leafstar said they were leaving.”
Had she forgotten the vision? Why wasn’t she upset? “Don’t you know what this means?”
“Peace, of course.” She tipped her head, as though she didn’t understand why this bothered him.
“You’re home!” Jayfeather called from the medicine den before Alderheart could respond to Sparkpelt. He beckoned Alderheart from the rain with his tail.
“I’ll be there soon. I have to speak to Bramblestar first!” Alderheart told him.
“Alderheart!” Molewhisker poked his head out of the warriors’ den. “It’s good to see you!”
Thriftkit, Bristlekit, and Flipkit scrambled from the nursery, raindrops glittering in their fluffy pelts.
Bristlekit raced toward Alderheart. “What was it like in ShadowClan?”
“Was Tigerstar scary?” Flipkit followed.
Alderheart nosed them gently away as they crowded his paws. “I’ll tell you about it later.” He began to head toward the tumble of rocks.
“Come back at once!” Ivypool yowled from the nursery. “You’ll all get greencough out there.”
“It’s not fair.” Thriftkit scowled at her.
“Cats on hunting patrols don’t worry about greencough,” Bristlekit grumbled.
As they headed back to the nursery, Alderheart bounded onto the Highledge and stopped outside Bramblestar’s den. He tasted the air. Bramblestar was inside, and Squirrelflight was with him. He ducked through the trailing vines and shook the rain from his pelt.
“You’re home!” Bramblestar blinked at him.
Squirrelflight thrust her muzzle to his cheek. “It’s good to see you.”
“I have to talk to you.” Alderheart stared at them urgently. “SkyClan is gone.”
Squirrelflight and Bramblestar glanced at each other, as though recalling a previous conversation.
“You don�
��t seem surprised.” Alderheart searched Bramblestar’s gaze.
Bramblestar shrugged. “Well, Leafstar seemed pretty certain last night.”
Frustration surged in Alderheart’s chest. Why was no one else as upset about this as he was? “But she said she’d think about it!”
Squirrelflight’s eyes rounded with sympathy. “She was just being polite.”
“Of course, we wish it hadn’t come to this,” Bramblestar meowed gravely, “but we were out of options.”
Squirrelflight moved closer to her mate. “Your father did what he could. He offered them territory.”
Bramblestar’s ears twitched. “Without the support of the other Clans, we couldn’t make SkyClan stay.”
Alderheart stared at them. Were they ready to accept SkyClan’s loss? Didn’t they remember the vision? “What will happen to the rest of the Clans?”
“StarClan will guide us,” Bramblestar told him.
“Why would they bother when no cat listens to them?” Anger jabbed at Alderheart’s belly.
Squirrelflight ran her tail along Alderheart’s spine. “We listen,” she murmured. “But we can’t change what has happened.”
“You can tell the other Clans the truth!” Alderheart shook his mother off.
“The truth?” Bramblestar echoed.
“ShadowClan drove SkyClan away.” Alderheart was trembling with rage. “When they invaded SkyClan’s camp, they put deathberry seeds in the prey.”
“I know that’s what Frecklewish told us at the Gathering,” Bramblestar mewed soothingly. “But we have no proof. Sparrowpelt might have picked the seeds up anywhere.”
Alderheart lashed his tail. “I have proof! I found seeds beside the fresh-kill pile at SkyClan’s camp. They had ShadowClan scent on them.” He stared in triumph at his father.
Bramblestar’s eyes widened for a moment. Concern darkened his gaze.
“You have to do something!” Alderheart pressed.
“Do what exactly?” Bramblestar shook out his fur. “Sparrowpelt survived. And SkyClan has already left. Accusing ShadowClan of poisoning their fresh-kill pile won’t bring them back.”