Darkness Within

by Erin Hunter

  He flattened his ears, not wanting to hear any more. There was nothing he could do in camp about Bramblestar. Right now he had something more important to do. “Come with me,” he whispered as he reached Bristlefrost.

  Her eyes widened. “Where?”

  “Just follow.” He padded around the edge of the clearing and slipped behind the warriors’ den. Behind it, a gap in the bushes led to a grassy slope. He guided her up it, to where beech trees crowded the top, and padded between them, stopping where they opened onto a wide stretch of meadow. SkyClan’s territory stretched before them, bright in the greenleaf sunshine. Flowers flashed among the long grass, which shimmered in the breeze.

  Bristlefrost stopped beside him, her eyes round with worry. “Is something wrong?”

  “No.” He stared at her, his heart skipping a beat. Bristlefrost’s fur glowed in the sunshine, and her neat, gray ears twitched eagerly as she waited for him to explain. “Nothing is wrong. Everything is right as long as we’re here, together.” He took a breath, pressing his paws into the earth for courage. “I love you,” he mewed. “And I think you love me. I want to be together.”

  She didn’t move, her gaze fixed on his, unreadable for a moment so that he wondered if he should have spoken.

  “I love you,” he mewed again, willing her to answer.

  “I love you too.” Her eyes sparkled. Sunrise had been right. She did love him. For a moment he felt he might burst with happiness. Then Bristlefrost’s gaze clouded and he felt as though he were falling. His heart skipped a beat.

  “But it doesn’t matter what we feel.” Her eyes glistened with sorrow. “We’ve been over this. We can’t be together.”

  “It does matter what we feel,” Rootspring insisted. “It matters more than any rules. The Sisters think the Clan rules are wrong, and I agree. We make each other stronger. We’d be better warriors. Why shouldn’t we be together?”

  “But how?” Bristlefrost searched his eyes, as if she believed they were hiding an answer.

  “We need to make a choice,” he told her. “I can join Thunderclan, or you can join SkyClan. As long as we’re together, I don’t care which.”

  Bristlefrost held his gaze. “You do care. I know you do. You know exactly which of us you think should leave our Clan. You’re hoping I will leave Thunderclan.”

  His tail twitched uncomfortably. He didn’t want to admit it, but she was right. “It’s only natural that I’d prefer it if you joined SkyClan. My kin are here.”

  “My kin are in Thunderclan,” Bristlefrost pointed out.

  “But SkyClan is stronger,” he pressed. “Stronger than it’s ever been. Thunderclan has been torn apart by what happened with Ashfur. Your warriors are leaving. Your leader doesn’t even have nine lives. What if Thunderclan never recovers from this?”

  “That’s not a reason to leave.” Bristlefrost sounded angry. “It’s a reason to stay. Do you really think I could abandon my Clan when it’s in trouble? If Bramblestar is really gone and the Clans kill his body, Squirrelflight will be grieving. How can I leave her to hold Thunderclan together all by herself? And I promised Spotfur I’d help raise her kits. You saw how scared she was. She’ll need me.” She paused, her breath coming quickly. “Don’t you see? I need to stay in Thunderclan.”

  He stared at her. He hated that everything she said was true, but he loved with all his heart her desperate loyalty to her Clan.

  “So?” She blinked away grief, her gaze seeming to reach so deep into his eyes, Rootspring had to force himself not to tremble. “The question is, would you be willing to leave SkyClan to join me?”

  Rootspring stared back at her, searching for words. He wanted to say yes. Being with her was more important than anything else. And yet, to turn his back on his kin—Tree and Violetshine and Needleclaw? To walk away from a leader he believed in, and the Clan that had raised him? Words seemed to dry on his tongue. Bristlefrost’s stare didn’t waver as she waited.

  “I’ll have to think about it,” he mewed quietly. Was he letting her down?

  She nodded. “I understand.” There was no reproach in her voice. “It’s a big decision. Take as much time as you need.” She looked away. “We should head back.”

  “Yes.” Guilt jabbed his belly. He wished he could give up everything for her without hesitation. But it was more complex than Sunrise seemed to think. The Sisters thought the warrior code was wrong, but it was impossible for him and Bristlefrost to pretend it wasn’t part of who they were. “It’s best if we don’t go back together.” He nodded toward the path they’d followed. “You go that way. I’ll use the entrance.”

  She nodded and headed back down the slope. Rootspring watched her go, his thoughts more tangled than ever. He shook out his pelt. He needed to think. He followed the hilltop and took the path down the valley that led to the camp entrance. As he pushed through the ferns, he smelled Hawkwing’s scent. It was fresh. The SkyClan deputy must have returned from questioning Ashfur.

  Hawkwing was standing in the clearing. Frecklewish and Alderheart flanked him as the patrol reported to Leafstar and Squirrelflight. Bristlefrost was already in camp, watching from beside the warriors’ den.

  “He wouldn’t tell us if he’d left the ShadowClan camp,” Hawkwing mewed. “And he didn’t seem scared, even though we could have killed him right there.”

  Squirrelflight flinched. “Did you really think he would be?” she mewed. “It’s not his body. He doesn’t care what happens to it.”

  Leafstar flicked her tail. “It sounds like Ashfur’s no use to us now.”

  Squirrelflight stared at her. “He’s keeping Bramblestar’s body alive.”

  “So you keep saying.” Leafstar faced the Thunderclan leader. “But that doesn’t get us anywhere.” She dipped her head formally. “I think it’s time your patrol returned home.”

  Squirrelflight seemed to freeze. “You’re right,” she mewed stiffly. “Thank you for giving us shelter and allowing the Sisters to hold their ceremony here.” She nodded to Alderheart and Twigbranch, then padded toward the fern entrance.

  Rootspring stepped aside as she passed, watching Bristlefrost as she hurried after them. She avoided his gaze, but he saw her fur ruffle as she slid past him and followed her Clanmates out of camp. He closed his eyes. Why wasn’t this decision easier? He only wanted to be with her. Why couldn’t he simply decide to leave SkyClan?

  He turned and padded heavily toward the fresh-kill pile. Tree would understand if he left, surely. What about Violetshine? His mother might forgive him, but Needleclaw? Would his sister ever speak to him again if he followed Bristlefrost to Thunderclan?

  He was so lost in thought, he hardly noticed Beekit and Beetlekit haring toward him. Squeaking with excitement, the two kits darted between his legs. Rootspring blinked in surprise and hopped nimbly out of the way. “Slow down!”

  Beekit froze and blinked up at him. “Oops!”

  “Sorry!” Beetlekit scrambled to a halt, his short tail fluffed out like a dandelion.

  Beekit pricked her ears. “Who are you?”

  Rootspring hesitated. Would Dewspring and Nectarsong have told their kits about their Clanmate who could see ghosts? He shifted his paws self-consciously, remembering how, as an apprentice, his denmates had teased him about having Tree as a father. Would these kits call him weird too? I guess they have to know sometime. He puffed out his chest. “I’m Rootspring.”

  Beekit’s eyes widened. “Are you the one who brought the Sisters here?”

  “You can see ghosts, right?” Beetlekit stared at him.

  “Yes.” Rootspring braced himself, ready to see fear spark in their eyes or amusement twitch in their whiskers.

  Beekit purred excitedly. “That’s so cool!”

  Rootspring blinked at the white-and-tabby she-kit. “Is it?” He couldn’t hide his surprise.

  “Totally!” Beetlekit fluffed out his fur. “I wish I could see ghosts. It would be awesome.”

  Beekit pushed in front of her bro
ther. “Can I be your apprentice?”

  Beetlekit nudged her out of the way. “I want to be his apprentice.”

  “I said it first!” Beekit glared at him.

  Beetlekit puffed out his chest. “But I’m older than you.”

  “No, you’re not!”

  “Yes, I am!” Beetlekit leaped on his sister and bundled her over. Tumbling across the clearing, they began to play-fight.

  Rootspring watched them, happiness washing his pelt. He suddenly realized how far he’d come since the other apprentices had called him names. He’d never imagined he’d become a warrior that kits would want as a mentor. Maybe he belonged in SkyClan more than he’d thought. His weird powers were a strength now, something he could use to help his Clan. He gazed around the camp.

  Sunlight dappled the clearing. Hawkwing was gathering a hunting patrol at the entrance. Kitescratch and Turtlecrawl were clearing old bedding out of the elders’ den. These were the cats he’d grown up with, and the cats he’d grown strong to impress. Somehow he’d embraced his and his father’s strange powers, and it had only made him a better SkyClan warrior.

  Now his Clan not only needed him, but wanted him.

  How could he think of leaving this place where he belonged?

  Chapter 20

  Bristlefrost glanced again at the camp entrance. Early morning sunshine had flooded the hollow. The dawn patrol would be back soon. They had to be. She stretched and tugged impatiently at the earth. Why hadn’t she woken earlier? She could have joined Lionblaze, Bumblestripe, and Cherryfall on patrol. Instead she was stuck in camp, frustration itching at her pelt.

  Alderheart turned to face her. “If you’re bored, you can help Flamepaw and Baypaw clean out the bedding.” The Thunderclan medicine cat was with Brackenfur, dabbing mouse bile onto ticks that had lodged in the elder’s fur while he’d been out in the forest yesterday.

  Brackenfur wrinkled his nose at the bitter stench. “I don’t think they need more help.”

  “No, we don’t.” Baypaw was dragging a bundle of crushed bracken from the elders’ den. His pelt twitched irritably. “Cloudtail and Brightheart are already giving us plenty of advice.”

  Brightheart poked her head from the den. “Make sure you take the old bedding right out of camp,” she told him.

  “Bring ferns this time,” Cloudtail called from inside. “Bracken is too prickly for Brightheart.”

  “But bracken stays fresh longer,” Brightheart called back.

  Baypaw rolled his eyes and dragged the old bracken toward the camp entrance.

  Bristlefrost sat down. It seemed like every cat in Thunderclan was trying to stay busy. Mousewhisker, Finleap, and Larksong were clearing stones that had fallen from the rock tumble; Twigbranch and Birchfall inspected the camp wall for holes. Dewnose and Poppyfrost were helping Jayfeather clear brambles from the entrance to the medicine den, while Spotfur wove an extra nest for the nursery. Daisy, it seemed, had gone to help Smoky with his new kits while Bristlefrost had been away fetching the Sisters. She hoped it was just to help Smoky, and not because Daisy, too, was thinking about leaving Thunderclan for good. With Spotfur’s kits coming soon, Bristlefrost would feel better knowing that the cat who’d helped raise generations of Thunderclan kits would still be around.

  She wondered what Rootspring was doing. Was he out hunting with his Clanmates? Perhaps he was helping to clear away the temporary nests SkyClan had made for the Sisters. Is he considering leaving SkyClan to be with me? She shook out her pelt. She couldn’t think about that. It felt wrong to wish he’d leave his Clan.

  Bristlefrost looked at the fresh-kill pile. It was still full from yesterday. Lionblaze had organized so many hunting patrols that there was no point sending out more today, especially as the warm weather meant the prey would spoil easily.

  Beside her, Spotfur was sitting back on her haunches and frowning at the nest she’d woven. “It needs moss,” she told Plumstone.

  “I’ll fetch some.” Plumstone got to her paws.

  Bristlefrost lifted her tail. “I’ll go.” Anything would be better than staying in camp. She hadn’t been able to settle since she’d returned from SkyClan’s camp yesterday morning. She missed Rootspring, but more than that, she wished she knew what was going to happen next. Squirrelflight had hardly left her den, and Lionblaze was as sullen as a badger with a sore tail. If Bramblestar had disappeared for good and Ashfur’s spirit could travel wherever it liked, the Clans had to do something. It would be crazy to wait for the dark warrior to cause more trouble. But what could they do but wait?

  As she headed for the entrance, paw steps sounded outside camp. She hesitated as Lionblaze padded from the thorn tunnel, Bumblestripe and Cherryfall at his heels.

  Lionblaze blinked at her. “Where are you going?”

  “Spotfur and Plumstone need moss,” she told him.

  He frowned. “Warriors shouldn’t go out alone now that we know Ashfur can roam the forest whenever he likes.”

  “I can take a patrol.” Bristlefrost guessed some of the other warriors would be pleased to get out of camp too. Her Clanmates’ pelts had been twitching since yesterday as though a thunderstorm were coming. It was probably why Lionblaze had been keeping everyone busy with hunting patrols.

  “Okay.” Lionblaze glanced around the camp.

  Bumblestripe’s tail flicked tetchily when it landed on him. “You want me to go on a moss-gathering patrol?”

  Lionblaze narrowed his eyes. “There’s more to Clan life than hunting and marking borders,” he told the gray tabby tom.

  “But moss gathering?” Bumblestripe huffed.

  Cherryfall shifted her paws. “I don’t know why we’re wasting time tidying up the camp when there’s a more important problem we should be dealing with.”

  Lionblaze eyed her sharply. “You mean Ashfur?”

  She gave a slow nod. “We were supposed to decide what to do with him once we’d consulted the Sisters.”

  “I know.” Lionblaze flexed his claws. “We should be dealing with him right now.”

  “Why don’t we just get on with it?” Bumblestripe mewed.

  Anxiety trickled along Bristlefrost’s spine. Lionblaze had once seemed ready to kill Ashfur. If he thought he had the support of other warriors, would he revive that plan? And would anything stop him carrying it out? “We have to wait for the leaders to decide,” she reminded him.

  Lionblaze scowled. “Squirrelflight’s clearly not ready to make a decision. She’s trying her best, but her loyalties are divided. And truly, she’s not a real—” He stopped, but Bristlefrost guessed what he was going to say.

  She stiffened as the brambles at the entrance to Bramblestar’s den twitched.

  “Finish your thought.” Squirrelflight padded out. She glared down at Lionblaze. “I’m not a real what?”

  Lionblaze hesitated. Bristlefrost held her breath. Would he say it out loud? She was aware that her Clanmates had stopped what they were doing to stare at their deputy nervously.

  He lifted his muzzle. “You’re not a real leader.”

  Squirrelflight leaped from the Highledge and padded toward the golden warrior. She stopped a tail-length away. “What would make me a real leader?”

  “StarClan,” Lionblaze answered. “They need to give you nine lives.”

  “And how can they when they’re not even here?”

  “Getting rid of Ashfur might bring them back.” Lionblaze held her gaze. “We have to do whatever we can. Maybe if we drive him out, Bramblestar will be able to get back into his body, and everything can go back to normal.”

  Squirrelflight half turned away from him. “That’s not the answer. Hawkwing says that Ashfur has left Bramblestar’s body more than once while he’s been held prisoner, and yet Bramblestar hasn’t been able to get back in.” She blinked at the golden warrior.

  Lionblaze’s tail drooped. “What if . . . what if that means he really is gone for good?”

  Spotfur left the nest she was weaving and padded
toward Squirrelflight. “I know how hard it is to lose your mate,” she mewed gently. “But perhaps it’s time you accepted that Bramblestar’s not coming back.”

  Squirrelflight stared at her wordlessly. Was that panic in the Thunderclan leader’s gaze? She blinked it away. “I need to be sure,” she growled. “If you kill Bramblestar’s body while his spirit is still beside the lake, you might be condemning him to wander the forest forever. It’s too great a risk.”

  Frustration flared in Lionblaze’s eyes. “It’s more of a risk if we do nothing at all!” he yowled.

  “Lionblaze is right,” Cherryfall mewed. “Ashfur could be planning anything.”

  “The more we delay, the more time it gives him,” Bumblestripe chimed.

  Lilyheart pushed past Bumblestripe. “Why do you need to rush this?” She glared at Lionblaze. “We have no proof that Bramblestar is gone.”

  “We have no proof that he isn’t!” Bumblestripe snapped.

  Bristlefrost stiffened. Her Clanmates sounded so angry. “Perhaps we should wait just a little longer.”

  “We’ve waited long enough!” Mousewhisker snarled.

  Bristlefrost flinched, shocked by the rage in his mew. She glanced around the clearing as angry growls rumbled around the camp. Her Clanmates were glaring at one another. Was Thunderclan willing to fight over this? She tried to catch Alderheart’s eye. Someone had to stop them. But the Thunderclan medicine cat was staring at the ground. Bramblestar was his father, and he clearly didn’t want to get involved in this argument.

  Bristlefrost turned to Lionblaze, but the Thunderclan deputy’s eyes had narrowed to slits as he stared at Lilyheart with undisguised fury. Her heart began to race. Please stop it!

  Stones rattled down the rock tumble as Squirrelflight bounded onto the Highledge. “Silence!” Her Clanmates froze as the Thunderclan leader’s mew rang over the clearing. “We’re not the enemy!” she yowled. “We shouldn’t be fighting one another. We’re Thunderclan. We protect one another. We’re bound by kinship and loyalty and the warrior code. Some of you chose Thunderclan.” Her gaze flashed toward Twigbranch, who lifted her chin proudly. “All of you have fought for your Clan, even when everything seemed hopeless.” She looked at Spotfur. “Some of you are preparing to bring new life into Thunderclan. Kits need to be protected and loved and taught how to live as warriors, and I know they will be, because in Thunderclan we protect those who cannot protect themselves, and we help those who need to be helped.” Her gaze flitted over Poppyfrost, Mousewhisker, and Lionblaze. “We live, not for ourselves, but for one another.” Emotion swelled in Bristlefrost’s throat as Squirrelflight looked around the Clan. “Every one of you has put your Clan before yourself in the past.” She blinked at Bristlefrost. “No matter how young or inexperienced, you’ve all fought to protect your Clan. The bond that we’ve shared will not be broken now. We have all been through too much.”