by Erin Hunter
“It was probably an accident.” Blossomheart left her mouse and padded closer.
Harrybrook got to his paws. “Perhaps it was a clumsy apprentice with a bad sense of direction.”
“That’s what I said.” Violetshine was eager to avoid conflict. StarClan wanted all of them to live peacefully around the lake, didn’t they? “Don’t forget they have new warriors who aren’t Clanborn.”
“Exactly,” Blossomheart agreed. “One of them could have strayed across the border without realizing.”
“Nonsense!” Mintfur snorted. “The border was clearly marked. Any cat would have smelled it. Even one who’s not Clanborn.”
“Silence.” Leafstar flicked her tail sharply. “We don’t know why ShadowClan crossed the border. But I’m not willing to accuse them of aggression when we don’t have the facts.”
“You should be protecting SkyClan, not defending ShadowClan,” Sandynose muttered.
Violetshine saw Leafstar’s hackles lift. The SkyClan leader was clearly irritated by Sandynose’s challenge. “I will protect SkyClan. We’ll re-mark the border.” She nodded to Hawkwing. “Organize three border patrols tomorrow instead of two.”
“Okay.” Hawkwing lifted a clump of dripping weed from the stream and dropped it onto the pile he’d collected. He met Leafstar’s gaze. “And I’ll make sure the border is marked again before sundown today.”
“Good.” Leafstar looked satisfied.
Sandynose’s pelt twitched. “If ShadowClan doesn’t respect our borders, re-marking them won’t make a difference.”
Leafstar frowned at him. “ShadowClan is rebuilding. Have you considered that Tigerstar might not be fully in control of his warriors yet? They may be crossing the border without his knowledge. I’m not going to risk undermining him by making an issue out of a single incident. We should leave ShadowClan alone until we know they are strong again.”
Macgyver’s gaze had darkened. “What if they’re already strong? This could be the first sign that they’re a threat. Are you going to ignore it?”
“He’s got a point.” Hawkwing shook the water from his paws and padded closer. He stopped in front of Leafstar. “We have no idea of Tigerstar’s intentions. Who knows how he’s changed since that time he left the Clans? Just because he once supported our claim to this territory doesn’t mean he still supports it. He’s leader now, and ShadowClan is stronger than it’s been since we arrived at the lake. It might be sensible to find out what he is thinking before we let this incident pass.”
Leafstar’s gaze flicked around the watching Clan. Violetshine could see from her frown that she was thinking. Bellaleaf and Macgyver exchanged glances. Harrybrook whispered something in Blossomheart’s ear. Hawkwing watched his leader, his expression unreadable.
“Tree.” Leafstar’s gaze reached the yellow tom. “You’re here to mediate between the Clans. What do you think?”
Violetshine leaned forward as Tree got to his paws. He’d know what to do. He always seemed to instinctively sense what cats were thinking.
Tree padded toward the SkyClan leader, his gaze thoughtful. As he reached her, he cleared his throat. “I think you’re right to be cautious,” he mewed. “I have no doubt that Tigerstar is already a strong leader. That doesn’t mean he’s dangerous, but if these scents are the first sign of ShadowClan aggression, he might be hoping you’ll react. It would give him an excuse to escalate this incident into a conflict.”
Violetshine stared at Tree. He’s so smart. Perhaps all the time he spent lying in the sun wasn’t wasted. Perhaps he was thinking instead of dozing.
Leafstar narrowed her eyes. “So you agree that we shouldn’t react.”
“I agree that you need more information before you do,” Tree told her.
“Will you go to ShadowClan and speak with Tigerstar?” Leafstar asked.
Tree shook his head. “That would be too direct. It’s best for the moment if Tigerstar doesn’t know you’re worried. After all, the scent marks may be unintended. There’s no point antagonizing Tigerstar with our suspicions if they are.”
Sandynose grunted impatiently. “Then what exactly do you suggest?”
“I could wander over to ShadowClan territory,” Tree proposed. “Hang around the border until I bump into a ShadowClan warrior and then we could just chat. It’s not hard to find out information through a bit of harmless small talk.”
Leafstar’s eyes brightened. “Good idea.” She glanced at Sandynose.
The tom was nodding. “It sounds like it might work.”
Mintfur’s ears twitched crossly. “I think we should send a patrol there. We should start with a show of strength, so Tigerstar knows what he’s up against.”
“We’ll show strength when we have to,” Leafstar told her. “For now, Tree will find out what he can.” Her gaze swung toward Violetshine. Violetshine’s heart lurched. “You can go with him,” Leafstar told her. “You were raised in ShadowClan. You’ll be able to tell what they’re thinking.”
Will I? Violetshine wasn’t sure, but she wasn’t going to argue. She was excited to be part of Tree’s mission to investigate ShadowClan. She dipped her head to Leafstar. “I’ll do my best.”
Leafstar stretched, signaling an end to the matter. Padding across the camp, she stopped at the stream and glanced along the bank. “Good work on the weed clearing, Hawkwing.”
Violetshine blinked at Tree. The yellow tom was already heading toward her. His eyes were bright as he neared. “Are you ready?”
“Yes.” Violetshine purred.
“Good.” He brushed against her as they headed out of camp, and she wondered if it was intentional. His fur felt soft against her flank, and as she ducked through the entrance tunnel, her paws pricked with pleasure.
Outside, Tree paused and glanced around the forest. “Where were the ShadowClan scent marks?”
Violetshine nodded in the direction of the ditch. Tree turned and headed in the opposite direction. She hurried after him. “Why are we going this way?”
“If we want to avoid arousing suspicion, it’s best we don’t start a conversation with a ShadowClan cat while standing next to their scent trail.”
Violetshine looked at him. “Of course! We don’t want them to realize we’ve noticed their scent on our land.”
He nudged his shoulder teasingly against hers as they walked. “You’re smarter than you look.”
“Hey!” She nudged him back. “I look as smart as you.”
“Almost.” He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, then broke into a run.
She charged after Tree, happy to be out in the forest alone with him. The warm breeze streamed through her fur as she followed him, zigzagging between trees and leaping branches that had fallen during the storm. He was heading toward the border that led to the lake. As they neared it, she waited for him to slow down. But he kept running, clearly enjoying the fresh air as much as she did.
“Watch out!” She could smell the scent markers ahead.
He glanced back without slowing. “What for?”
“The border!” Alarm sparked beneath her pelt. If they crossed into ShadowClan territory, they could make the situation worse. “Stop!”
Tree pulled up a tail-length from the scent line. He tasted the air, his pelt pricking in surprise. “I didn’t realize we were so close.”
“Couldn’t you smell it?”
“Not till now.” Tree whisked his tail. “I’m still learning the different Clan scents. All Clan cats smell the same to me.”
“But you knew the border was here, right?” She knew her Clan’s borders with her eyes closed.
“I do now.”
“I guess you haven’t been on many patrols like I have.” She glanced at him. “Maybe you should start going on them.” If he joined in with Clan patrols, her Clanmates might accept him more easily.
He shrugged. “I guess. But it seems a lot of effort. It’s like you’re looking for trouble. I always think you should wait to see if trouble fi
nds you, not go searching for it.”
“It does no harm to be prepared.” Would Tree ever settle into Clan life? With a jolt, Violetshine wondered if he even intended to. Perhaps he was just staying with SkyClan temporarily before he moved on to somewhere new. The thought sent hedgehog prickles through her heart. Should she ask him what his intentions were? She glanced at her paws, feeling hot. He might make fun of her for caring.
“Look.” His hushed mew made her lift her head. She followed his gaze. Cloverfoot, a ShadowClan warrior, was padding between the brambles on the other side of the border. The gray tabby’s gaze flitted intently from one bush to another. Her ears were pricked expectantly. She was clearly looking for prey.
Tree turned his gaze to Violetshine. “I told Hawkwing that the best prey is always closer to the lake. But he said that in newleaf prey is good everywhere.” He spoke loudly; Violetshine guessed that he was trying to attract Cloverfoot’s attention.
“It’s better in greenleaf.” She matched his tone, glancing at Cloverfoot. The ShadowClan warrior had heard them and was heading toward the border.
“Why are you yowling so loudly?” she growled across the scent line. “I’m trying to hunt. You’ll scare the prey away.”
Tree turned to her, his eyes wide with innocence. “I’m sorry.” He sounded contrite. “If I’d seen you I’d have kept my voice down.”
“Yeah, sorry,” Violetshine mumbled.
Tree gazed admiringly at the ShadowClan warrior as though he were unaware of her bristling fur. “I doubt a warrior as fit as you will have any trouble catching prey. We’ll leave you in peace. Sorry for the disturbance.” He turned to walk away, then paused. “Prey must be running well in ShadowClan, too,” he mewed breezily. “Our fresh-kill pile is so well-stocked that our apprentices grow faster than nettles.”
Cloverfoot swished her tail. “We’ve got plenty of prey.”
“Good.” Tree blinked at her. “Is ShadowClan doing okay? It must be good to be back in your real home.”
“It is.” Cloverfoot’s fur smoothed. “We’ve rebuilt the dens and reinforced the barrier wall. The camp is better than ever.”
Tree was gazing eagerly at Cloverfoot, his ears pricked as though he relished her every word. Violetshine felt a twinge of jealousy. “Tigerstar seems like a good leader,” Tree purred.
Cloverfoot puffed out her chest. “He’s a great leader.”
“Tougher than his father, eh?”
“Much tougher than Rowanclaw. All the cats respect him. He makes sure everyone’s belly is full, that the camp is kept in order, and that the apprentices are getting proper training. He says ShadowClan will be great again. We were strong in the past and we’ll be strong in the future.”
“That must be good to hear after all ShadowClan has been through.” Tree rounded his eyes sympathetically.
“It feels right,” Cloverfoot purred.
“Hawkwing says you’re keeping the borders well-marked,” Tree mewed. “He says strong borders make strong neighbors.” He caught Violetshine’s eye as though prompting her.
She hesitated. What did he want her to say? “It’s hard to stray across a well-marked border,” she mewed uncertainly. Had she guessed right?
“I guess.” Cloverfoot tipped her head, as though wondering what Violetshine was getting at.
Tree changed the subject quickly. “How are the cats from the Twolegplace settling in? It must be a big change for them.”
“They love warrior life. Especially Blazepaw. It’s like he was born to be a warrior.” Cloverfoot’s eyes shone as she spoke of him.
“They must find it hard getting used to all the new scents,” Violetshine chimed in. “Border scents, for example. They must be confused by all the scent markers.”
Suspicion flashed in Cloverfoot’s eye. “They seem to do okay.”
Tree scratched his ear nonchalantly. “I was just saying to Violetshine how hard I still find it to spot borders. I nearly ran across this one without noticing it. Fortunately, Violetshine called out to me in time. I know Clan cats take border crossing very seriously.” He met Cloverfoot’s gaze, suddenly earnest. “No ShadowClan cat would want to cross into another Clan’s territory if they didn’t have to, would they?”
“No.” Cloverfoot stared at him, her eyes glittering with sudden distrust. She backed away. “I’d better get back to hunting. I promised Blazepaw I’d bring him a shrew if I could find one.” She turned away and disappeared between the brambles.
Violetshine looked at Tree anxiously. “Did we give too much away?” ShadowClan wasn’t supposed to realize they knew about the border crossing. Had they been too heavy-pawed?
Tree lifted his tail. “I think we gave away just the right amount.” He headed back toward camp. “We know that Tigerstar is a strong leader, and that he has plans for ShadowClan. We had to let him know that we found ShadowClan scent on our land, without directly accusing him of anything. He should know that SkyClan won’t be caught off guard.”
Violetshine hurried after him. “Do you think ShadowClan is a threat?”
Tree hesitated. His silence made her paws prick with foreboding. Then he glanced over his shoulder at her. “I don’t know. But SkyClan must face the future with open eyes.”
CHAPTER 3
Alderheart sat down heavily beside Puddleshine’s nest. Two sunrises had passed since Bramblestar’s patrol had carried the ShadowClan cat to ThunderClan’s medicine den, and he had not improved. He frowned. Puddleshine was sick. Many of his wounds were still infected despite the careful cleaning and the marigold poultices Alderheart had applied day and night. It made no sense.
“I can’t seem to clear the infection,” he murmured.
Puddleshine lifted his head stiffly and blinked at him, his eyes clouded with pain. “You’ve treated my wounds the same way I would have. I don’t know why they’re not healing, either.”
“How is the pain today?”
“The poppy seeds you gave me have eased it a little.”
Alderheart touched his nose to Puddleshine’s ear. Heat pulsed from it. “You’re running a fever too.”
“It must be the infection,” Puddleshine mewed.
“Perhaps you have some other illness that is making you vulnerable to the infection. You smell weird.”
“I felt fine before I got tangled in the silverthorn.” Puddleshine’s eyes darkened. “How could I have been so foolish? I should have stayed clear.”
“There’s no point growling about it.” Alderheart was more concerned with dealing with Puddleshine’s wounds than with worrying how he got them. “Do you have any other symptoms? A sore throat? A bellyache?”
“No.” Puddleshine shifted wearily in his nest. “Only my wounds hurt.”
Alderheart glanced toward the den entrance. He felt out of his depth. He wasn’t used to not knowing the cause of a cat’s sickness. It was no comfort that Leafpool and Jayfeather were baffled too. “Do what you can,” Jayfeather had told him. “You’ll figure something out.” The blind medicine cat was checking on Ivypool’s kits in the nursery now. Leafpool had been out since dawn collecting herbs. Alderheart turned back to Puddleshine. “Can you think of another herb we could try?”
“Frecklewish mentioned wood sorrel at the last Moonpool meeting,” Puddleshine told him. “It’s just starting to sprout now.”
“I don’t know if it grows in ThunderClan territory.”
“There’s some around the ShadowClan border.” Puddleshine winced. “It’s dark green and has a sour smell.”
“I’ll find some. Let’s hope it works.”
As he spoke, voices sounded in the clearing. He pricked his ears. They sounded like ShadowClan. His heart lurched. Tigerstar had told Twigbranch that he’d be sending a patrol to fetch Puddleshine in a few days. Was this it? Alderheart shifted his paws. How would he explain that Puddleshine was in no fit state to travel home? He noticed Puddleshine’s gaze flick anxiously to the medicine-den entrance. “You rest,” Alderheart mewed. “I�
��ll go and see what’s happening.” He hurried out of the den.
Tawnypelt and Scorchfur stood in the clearing, flanked by Brackenfur and Fernsong.
“We found them waiting on the border,” Fernsong was explaining to his Clanmates, who were watching the ShadowClan cats warily as Bramblestar scrambled down the rock tumble.
For the first time, Alderheart noticed Dovewing standing behind Tawnypelt. The former ThunderClan warrior’s pale gray fur was bristling anxiously.
Alderheart narrowed his eyes. Why had she come? Dovewing had visited the camp when she’d first returned with Tigerstar. Every cat had been so relieved to see she was safe, they’d barely reproached her for her decision to abandon her Clan and take her kits to live with their father in ShadowClan. But that had been more than a moon ago. He wondered how ThunderClan felt now, seeing Dovewing as part of a ShadowClan patrol.
Squirrelflight padded forward to greet her, but a warning look from Scorchfur made her hesitate. Lionblaze frowned from beside the fresh-kill pile. Graystripe and Millie slipped from the elders’ den and exchanged looks as they saw Dovewing. Cherryfall and Bumblestripe glared at their former Clanmate, their hostility plain as Bramblestar reached the ShadowClan cats.
“You’ve come for Puddleshine?” the ThunderClan leader asked.
Tawnypelt met his gaze stiffly. “Tigerstar told the two youngsters you sent that we’d fetch him in two days. Is he ready?”
Scorchfur scanned the camp, clearly looking for the ShadowClan medicine cat. Dovewing’s gaze had drifted to the nursery.
“Well?” Tawnypelt pressed when Bramblestar didn’t answer. The ThunderClan leader was staring at Dovewing.
“I’m surprised you brought her here,” he meowed. “Feelings are running high about her decision to leave.” He glanced uneasily at Cherryfall and Bumblestripe. The pale gray tom’s hackles were up.
“She’s a member of ShadowClan now,” Tawnypelt meowed simply. “She joins our patrols whether they’re hunting or escorting Clan members home.”
Bramblestar narrowed his eyes. “Surely she should be in the nursery taking care of her kits?”