The Silent Thaw

by Erin Hunter

  Dovewing touched her kit’s ear with her nose. “I’ll be back soon,” she promised.

  Pouncestep blinked at her gratefully. “I’ll be okay.”

  As the two warriors ducked out of the den, Shadowsight tore a piece of dock leaf and chewed it up. He spat the pulp into the honey and mixed it, while Puddleshine gave Pouncestep the poppy seeds.

  The gray tabby she-cat closed her eyes. “It hurts to breathe,” she whispered.

  “It will for a while,” Puddleshine told her. “But you’ll be okay.”

  As Pouncestep closed her eyes, Shadowsight rubbed the ointment gently into her stings. A few moments later, her breath grew deeper as she slipped into sleep.

  Shadowsight glanced at Puddleshine anxiously. “Should we wake her?” He didn’t want her slipping into too deep a slumber.

  Puddleshine shook his head. “Sleep will do her good.”

  Shadowsight blinked at him. “I thought the accidents would stop when I shared my vision.”

  “This could have happened at any time,” Puddleshine told him. “It may have nothing to do with StarClan.”

  But doubt tugged at Shadowsight’s belly. “Maybe I should have shared my vision earlier,” he mewed. “Or maybe Tigerstar was right, and I shouldn’t have shared it at all.”

  “It’s pointless second-guessing StarClan.” Puddleshine’s gaze was clear and round. “You can only do what you think is best.” He tipped his head. “Have you had any more visions?”

  “Nothing.” Shadowsight dropped his gaze. “They’ve stopped talking to me.” He felt suddenly lost. Even during the long leaf-bare, when StarClan had been silent for the other medicine cats, they’d spoken to him. “Why are they silent now? I’ve done everything they asked.”

  Puddleshine held his gaze solemnly. “Are you sure your visions have been from StarClan?” he asked suddenly.

  Shadowsight stared at him. “Of course they are!” Did Puddleshine think he’d dreamed them up?

  “It does seem strange that they only spoke to one cat.” Puddleshine looked thoughtful.

  “They were visions, I promise,” Shadowsight mewed fervently. “I didn’t imagine them.”

  “I know.” Puddleshine frowned. “But I can’t help thinking that the Clans shouldn’t act on any more visions until StarClan starts sharing with all the medicine cats again.”

  Shadowsight felt queasy. “Do you think I’ve done something wrong?”

  “No,” Puddleshine mewed quickly. “But every vision seems to have pushed the Clans deeper into conflict. I don’t see why StarClan would want to lead us down that path.”

  Shadowsight stared at him. Did Puddleshine also believe that he should have protected ShadowClan by keeping the vision to himself? Feeling hollow, he headed for the entrance.

  “Where are you going?” Puddleshine called after him.

  “I have to think,” he answered. “I’m going for a walk.”

  Night had fallen, and the camp was dark as he crossed the clearing. His Clanmates were sharing tongues beside their dens. He avoided their glances as he headed for the entrance and slipped into the forest.

  Puddleshine’s words had unsettled him. Could it be true that he’d misinterpreted StarClan’s signs? Were his ancestors trying to send him a deeper message that he was too mouse-brained to understand? Instinctively he headed for the edge of the forest and the stream that would lead him to the Moonpool. Perhaps they’d talk to him now, if he confessed that he didn’t understand their visions and begged them to just tell him what they wanted.

  The moon was high by the time he pulled himself over the lip of the hollow and followed the dimpled rock down to the pool. The black surface reflected no stars, and the dark water made him nervous. Was StarClan determined not to listen? His heart quickened as he crouched at the edge. Please, StarClan, speak to me. I only want to make things right, for you and for the Clans. Surely they’d hear the longing in his heart and respond? The Moonpool was cold, but the thawed water rippled as he touched his nose to it. He let his mind clear, waiting for the wide green meadows of StarClan to open before him and the voices of cats he’d only known in visions to speak to him.

  He saw only endless darkness. The chill of the stone beneath his paws seemed to reach through him, until he felt as cold as ice. Fear trickled along his spine, and he shivered, suddenly unnerved. The weight of another cat’s gaze seemed to press into his pelt. Was some cat watching him? He lifted his head sharply and blinked open his eyes. In the silence of the night, he could sense another presence in the hollow. He fluffed out his fur, feeling suddenly vulnerable in the Moonpool’s wide stone basin beneath the endless black sky. Fear wormed beneath his pelt and, keeping low, he crept away from the water and hurried up the spiraling path to the lip of the hollow. He scrambled over the edge, relieved as the shadows swallowed him.

  He had felt nothing of StarClan in the hollow, and as he padded quickly along the stream that cut through the moor and led back toward the forest, his pelt prickled with foreboding. He realized with a sense of dread that none of the visions had swept him to the sun-drenched meadows of StarClan. There had been no glittering pelts, only a single disembodied voice swathed in shadow. That voice had told him to take Bramblestar onto the moor to let him die. It had told him that the Clans must suffer until the codebreakers were punished.

  Puddleshine’s words rang again in his head. Every vision seems to have pushed the Clans deeper into conflict. His mentor was right. Each time he’d shared what he’d seen, the Clans had grown more frightened and more defensive. I don’t see why StarClan would want to lead us down that path. StarClan had only ever wanted the Clans to be safe and happy. Why would they demand suffering now?

  He glanced back toward the hollow, no more than a silhouette against the starry sky. He’d gone to the Moonpool to find clarity. And he had, but not in the way he’d expected. Certainty sat like a rock in his belly. The voice, which had told him to cure Bramblestar by letting him die and had shown him the codebreakers, belonged to a spirit that knew the Clans. But he knew now, with a sureness that filled him with horror, that the voice had never been the voice of StarClan.

  Chapter 16

  Rootpaw peered from the den entrance and tasted the damp night air. Musty forest scents bathed his tongue. The dark clearing was deserted. He pricked his ears and heard only the call of an owl far away in the forest. Anxiety fluttered in his belly as he glanced at the moon. It was already high in the raven-black sky. His Clanmates had taken ages to settle into their dens and go to sleep. I’m going to be late for the meeting!

  Bracken rustled behind him, and he jerked his muzzle around, alarm sparking in his pelt. Had one of his denmates woken? In the shadows, he saw Wrenpaw curl tighter in her nest and settle deeper into the moss. Needlepaw was still snoring softly beside her.

  Holding his breath, Rootpaw slipped outside, skirting the clearing as he made for the entrance. He quickened his step. Once he was out in the forest, he would only have to worry about being seen by foxes and badgers. For once, he wished that Bramblestar’s ghost were with him. He didn’t like being alone in the woods at night, and another pair of eyes would be useful. But the ghost had disappeared last night and Rootpaw hadn’t seen it since. Perhaps it had gone to keep an eye on Squirrelflight. She’d looked pretty scared when she’d found out her mate was an impostor.

  “Rootpaw?” A whisper from the shadows made him freeze. Fur spiking, he glanced around, his heart sinking as he recognized his father’s yellow pelt glowing in the moonlight.

  Tree padded from the darkness beside the camp wall. “You’re up late.”

  “So are you.” Irritation hardened Rootpaw’s belly. Why couldn’t his father be asleep in his nest like the rest of the Clan? “What are you doing here?”

  “I like to watch the stars when every cat is sleeping.” Tree glanced at the sky. “It’s nice to have some time to myself.” He glanced back at Rootpaw. “Why aren’t you asleep?”

  Rootpaw shifted his paws self-c
onsciously. “I was on my way to the dirtplace.”

  Tree looked unconvinced. “Why not use the dirtplace tunnel?” He nodded across the clearing.

  “I . . . wanted to stretch my legs.” Rootpaw blinked, his thoughts whirling. How could he get rid of Tree? The meeting would be starting soon.

  Tree’s eyes rounded. “I thought Leafstar told you not to leave camp without permission after your trip to ThunderClan.”

  Rootpaw flicked his tail crossly. Tree wasn’t going to make this easy. “There’s somewhere I have to be,” he snapped.

  “Where?” Tree tipped his head to one side.

  “A meeting, okay?” Why couldn’t Tree just let him go?

  “Does this have something to do with the ghost?” Tree leaned closer, concern darkening his eyes.

  “No,” Rootpaw told him. “I haven’t seen it all day.”

  “Are you meeting Bristlefrost?” Tree blinked at him.

  “No!” Rootpaw stuck out his chin. “Spotfur and Stemleaf invited me to a meeting of cats who are worried about what’s going on in the Clans.”

  Tree pricked his ears. “Other cats are worried too?” He sounded relieved.

  “Of course they are.” Rootpaw’s shoulders drooped. He was going to have to tell Tree everything. “Stemleaf and Spotfur invited me when we were leaving the Gathering. They’re going to see if there’s something they can do to stop what’s happening.”

  Tree whisked his tail. “Then I’d better come with you.”

  “No!” Rootpaw stared at him, dismayed. What would the other cats think if he turned up with his father?

  “Why not?” Tree looked surprised. “You know I’ve been worried about the direction the Clans are heading. If other cats are meeting to discuss it, I want to be there.”

  Rootpaw realized it would be pointless to object. Tree was never going to let him sneak out if he didn’t get to come too. “Okay,” he muttered. “But we have to hurry. The meeting starts at moonhigh.”

  Tree glanced at the sky. “Come on, then.”

  Rootpaw padded after his father as Tree hurried out of camp. He fluffed out his fur. At least I have that other pair of eyes now. As the forest stretched away into darkness on every side, he forced back a shiver. The journey suddenly felt dangerous. He was going to meet cats from other Clans in secret. Glancing into the shadows, he felt suddenly comforted by Tree’s presence.

  They moved softly through the woods. Tree led the way, his ears pricked and his whiskers twitching as they followed the trail to the edge of ShadowClan land and cut across the forest to the greenleaf Twolegplace.

  “Are you going to tell them about the ghost?” Tree asked as they crouched at the edge of the forest and gazed across the silent meadow.

  “No.” Rootpaw scanned the slope, looking for pelts in the moonlight. There was no sign of movement and he tasted the air. The breeze carried faint ThunderClan scents. He realized his father was staring at him.

  “You’re not telling?” Tree looked surprised. “Why not?”

  “I’m not admitting to a bunch of warriors from other Clans that I can see dead cats,” Rootpaw told him. “You might think it’s normal, but I don’t.”

  “But it’s important.”

  “I’ll find another way to make them see that Bramblestar isn’t who he says he is. But I don’t want to tell them I’ve been talking to his ghost. I want them to take me seriously.” Rootpaw narrowed his eyes. A shadow was moving through the long grass at the edge of the meadow.

  Tree frowned. “Why do you think they won’t take you seriously if you tell them you can see ghosts?”

  “They might think I’m like you.” Guilt seared his pelt as he blurted out the words. That was cruel. He glanced at his father. I’m sorry. Before he could apologize out loud, the shadow darted across the slope. His ears pricked. It was a cat. He pointed his muzzle toward it. “Do you see that?” he asked Tree.

  Tree’s ears were twitching. “See what?”

  “Over there,” Rootpaw nodded toward the cat, whose mottled fur was barely more than a ripple on the grass.

  Tree stiffened. “It’s Frecklewish!”

  Rootpaw blinked. His father was right. The SkyClan medicine cat was creeping around the edge of the meadow.

  Tree raced forward. “Frecklewish!”

  The medicine cat froze.

  “It’s me, Tree!”

  Rootpaw hurried after his father. Didn’t he realize this meeting was supposed to be secret?

  Frecklewish arched her back, her pelt spiking as Tree raced toward her.

  “Don’t worry.” Tree skidded to a halt beside her, panting. “It’s just us. What are you doing here?”

  “What are you doing here?” Frecklewish eyed Tree suspiciously as Rootpaw caught up.

  “Stemleaf and Spotfur invited us to a meeting,” Tree told her.

  Rootpaw glanced sharply at his father. “They invited me,” he muttered. “Tree invited himself.”

  “Is that where you’re going?” Tree pressed, staring at Frecklewish.

  “Yes.” Frecklewish lifted her chin. “Stemleaf and Spotfur thought I looked upset after the last Gathering. They told me about the meeting, too.”

  Rootpaw shifted his paws. “Are you worried about the codebreakers?”

  “I’m worried about how they’re being treated. StarClan’s never wanted to punish us before.” Frecklewish glanced across the meadow to where bushes clustered around a dip in the slope. She nodded toward it. “I think the other cats are over there.”

  “Come on.” Tree hurried away, his tail flicking eagerly.

  As Rootpaw followed, Frecklewish fell in beside him.

  “I don’t like going behind Leafstar’s back,” she whispered. “But I want to hear what these cats have to say.”

  “Me too.” Rootpaw was relieved to see a medicine cat there. It made going to the meeting feel less disloyal.

  He followed Frecklewish as she slid between the bushes. His nose twitched as cat scents filled it, so many he couldn’t tell them apart. Fur prickling, he pushed his way between the branches, surprised as a small hollow opened before him. He paused, his heart lurching as he saw pelts moving in the moonlight. So many cats! Finleap and Twigbranch were there with Stemleaf and Spotfur. Cloverfoot, Whorlpelt, and Blazefire had come from ShadowClan. Blossomheart! She must have slipped out of camp before him. Breezepelt hung back in the shadows with Smokehaze and Slightfoot, and Dappletuft and Sneezecloud pressed together, their pelts damp where they must have crossed the river.

  Tree was already greeting Stemleaf, dipping his head to the ThunderClan tom before he eased into a space between Twigbranch and Blazefire. He beckoned Rootpaw to join him with a flick of his tail.

  As Rootpaw crossed the hollow, Stemleaf blinked at him. “I’m glad you came,” he mewed.

  Spotfur’s eyes glittered anxiously. “We didn’t expect so many cats to be here.”

  As the warriors eyed one another warily, Rootpaw moved closer to Tree. He fluffed out his pelt, trying not to think about how much trouble Stemleaf and his Clanmates would be in if Bramblestar found out about this meeting.

  Frecklewish nosed her way in beside Rootpaw. “I don’t know what good this will do,” she whispered in his ear. “But maybe some cat has a plan.”

  Stemleaf looked around at the gathered cats. “Thanks for coming,” he told them. “I know it was hard to get away from your Clans. But I think it’s really important that we’re here.”

  Breezepelt narrowed his eyes. “Do you really think we can stop what’s happening to the Clans?”

  “Nothing would be happening to the Clans if it weren’t for Bramblestar,” Whorlpelt stared accusingly at the ThunderClan cats.

  Sneezecloud nodded. “He’s the one who wants to make an example of the codebreakers.”

  Frecklewish frowned. “He does seem to have StarClan on his side.”

  The gathered cats hesitated, glancing uneasily at Frecklewish.

  She pressed on. “Shadowsight’
s latest vision agreed with what he’s been saying these past moons. It sounds like they want the codebreakers punished too.”

  Stemleaf’s gaze darkened. “I know,” he mewed grimly. “If we stand up to Bramblestar, we’ll be challenging StarClan.”

  Rootpaw shifted his paws. “Perhaps StarClan doesn’t want the codebreakers to suffer as much as Bramblestar does,” he ventured. “Perhaps they only want them to acknowledge that they’ve broken the code.”

  Spotfur frowned. “Not every codebreaker knows what they’ve done wrong.”

  Twigbranch’s ears twitched. “I wish I knew exactly what I’ve done wrong,” she mewed. “I’d happily own up to it if I did. I’ve only ever wanted to be a loyal warrior.”

  Cloverfoot met her gaze. “All the codebreakers want to be loyal warriors. I don’t understand why they must be punished.”

  “Bramblestar seems intent on making life miserable for the codebreakers in ThunderClan,” Finleap mewed, shaking his head.

  “Banishing cats!” Outrage edged Cloverfoot’s mew. “Clans are supposed to stick together, not turn their backs on their Clanmates.”

  “We’re meant to support one another through good times and bad,” Sneezecloud mewed.

  Slightfoot’s pelt twitched. “Warriors are honorable because they want to be, not because they’re scared of being punished!”

  “We look after our Clanmates because we care about them,” Whorlpelt chimed. “Not just because we’re obeying rules.”

  Frecklewish frowned. “But StarClan does want us to follow the rules,” she mewed.

  “Well, if Bramblestar weren’t yowling about punishment all the time, the Clans could find a better way to deal with the codebreakers,” Stemleaf replied, annoyed.

  Cloverfoot’s eyes narrowed. “What are you suggesting?”

  Stemleaf lifted his chin. “Bramblestar is trying to make us act like Darktail’s Kin. He wants us to turn on one another. But warriors aren’t cruel. They never have been. Bramblestar must have bees in his brain. We have to get rid of him before he spoils the Clans forever.”

  Rootpaw’s chest tightened. Was a ThunderClan cat really suggesting the Clans turn on his leader?