by Erin Hunter
Her mouth went dry as his gaze flicked back to her. That’s a threat. She stared at him wordlessly. Is he telling me he knows about the meeting? Or is he just warning me to be careful? “The warrior code is clear about loyalty,” she mewed fervently. “A true warrior is loyal to their Clan above all.” Her thoughts whirled. She had to warn Twigbranch and Finleap. And Rootpaw! Every cat who was at the meeting must know that Bramblestar suspected something. Her heart quickened. But how could she reach them when he was keeping such a close eye on her?
Bramblestar’s tail flicked. “Would you do me a favor?”
“Of course.” She pricked her ears.
“I want you to check on Squirrelflight,” he told her. “I’ve heard rumors that she’s still somewhere around the lake, but I don’t know where.” His whiskers quivered. “Do you think you could find out?” Bramblestar hesitated. “I want you to make sure she’s left Clan land.”
He looked distracted, his eyes glittering anxiously for a moment, and Bristlefrost wondered if he was actually worried about Squirrelflight. “I could try,” she mewed.
“Try?” His eyes widened.
“I’ll do it,” she promised. For the first time since the meeting, excitement fizzed in her paws. She might be able to speak to Rootpaw while she was tracking Squirrelflight. He’d spread the word. She tried to cover her enthusiasm. “When do you want me to leave?”
“How about now?” Bramblestar looked at her inquiringly, but she knew it was an order rather than a question.
She dipped her head. “I’ll leave straight away.” She hurried out of the den and scrambled down the rock tumble, sending stones clattering into the clearing.
Finleap looked up from his digging, and she met his gaze, hoping he saw the warning in it. He nudged Twigbranch, and they both watched her as she headed for the entrance. She quickened her pace as she ducked through it and broke into a run as soon as she was outside. Racing up the slope, she followed the route she’d escorted Squirrelflight along a few days earlier. The brambles they’d brushed past still smelled of their scent. Trees blurred around her as she charged through the forest, following the trail to the SkyClan border. That was where they’d left her. She’d told them she was heading toward the mountains, and they’d watched her pad sadly away before turning back to camp.
Bristlefrost pulled up as she reached the scent line and tasted the air. Did Bramblestar expect her to follow Squirrelflight’s scent onto another Clan’s land? She frowned. No. That would be breaking the warrior code. She gazed across the border to where the land sloped upward and boulders jutted from the forest floor. Her heart quickened as she saw pelts moving through the undergrowth. Opening her mouth, she let their scents bathe her tongue, excited to taste Rootpaw’s scent. She couldn’t help feeling that StarClan—wherever it had gone—was still on her side.
She stared eagerly over the border, willing his patrol to head this way. She felt a surge of relief when she saw them padding toward her.
Dewspring and Harrybrook were with the SkyClan apprentice, and she caught their eye, beckoning the patrol closer with a nod.
Dewspring narrowed his eyes as he approached her. “Is something wrong?”
“I wanted to talk to Rootpaw,” she told him.
Rootpaw stopped beside his mentor and frowned. “What about?”
“Something important.” Bristlefrost stared at him urgently.
Harrybrook growled. “I thought we’d made it clear at the Gathering that you’re from different Clans.”
“I know.” Bristlefrost blinked apologetically at the SkyClan warrior. “But I was so mean to him at the Gathering. I wanted to apologize.”
“He’ll live,” Dewspring sniffed.
Rootpaw looked at his mentor and shrugged. “It would be nice to hear a ThunderClan cat apologize to a SkyClan cat.”
Dewspring’s eyes flashed with amusement. “I guess,” he conceded. He exchanged glances with Harrybrook before looking back at Rootpaw. “Just make sure it’s a good apology. She’s embarrassed you a lot.”
Rootpaw crossed the border and nudged Bristlefrost away. “Has something happened?” he whispered when they were out of earshot.
“I think Bramblestar suspects I’m up to something. He noticed I was away from camp on the night of the meeting.”
Rootpaw’s pelt prickled along his spine. “Does he know about the meeting?”
“I’m not sure,” Bristlefrost told him. “He didn’t say anything definite.”
“We have to be careful.” Rootpaw glanced past her into the ThunderClan forest. “Did any cat follow you?”
Bristlefrost stared at him, alarmed. “I don’t think so.” She followed his gaze, relieved as she saw the forest behind her was clear. “I ran all the way here. I would have heard if some cat was following.”
“Why did Bramblestar let you out of camp by yourself if he suspects you?”
“He sent me to find Squirrelflight. He says he wants to make sure she’s left Clan territory, but I think he’s worried about her.” She paused, then wondered out loud. “It’s weird. Why would the impostor be worried about Squirrelflight?”
“Who knows why he does anything.” Rootpaw flicked his tail. “We don’t have time to wonder about that now.” He glanced back at his mentor. The gray tom was pacing impatiently. “Squirrelflight’s with ShadowClan. She’s safe there. ShadowClan knows everything. I think Shadowsight was right when he said his visions weren’t from StarClan. He’s going to meet with the other medicine cats and tell them about the impostor.”
“I hope he does it soon,” Bristlefrost told him. “It’s awful back at camp. Every cat’s scared and there are so many rules and punishments.” She stared at him desperately. “We have to do something.”
“We will.” Rootpaw touched his muzzle to her cheek.
She pressed against it for a moment, relieved to have a friend she could trust. “I’m going to talk to Squirrelflight,” she told him. “She needs to know what’s happening in ThunderClan. But I won’t tell Bramblestar where she is.”
Rootpaw dipped his head and turned back toward his Clanmates. “Stay strong,” he whispered. “It’ll all be okay.”
Bristlefrost blinked at him gratefully, hoping he was right, then hurried toward the ShadowClan border.
Her paws ached by the time she reached it. Afternoon sunshine filtered through the newly budding branches. She stared across the scent line eagerly.
“What are you doing here?” Yarrowleaf’s sharp mew took her by surprise. The ShadowClan she-cat slid from behind a bramble, Strikestone at her heels. The brown tabby tom turned his good ear towards her.
“I need to talk to Squirrelflight,” she mewed.
Strikestone’s eyes sparked with suspicion. “Go back to your Clan,” he growled.
Bristlefrost met his gaze. Of course ShadowClan wouldn’t admit to hiding Squirrelflight. Why would they trust me? They think I’m one of Bramblestar’s most loyal warriors. But this might be the only chance she had to get away from camp alone. Frustration welled in her chest. She had to speak to Squirrelflight. Perhaps another ShadowClan warrior would listen. She looked past the patrol, scanning the pine forest hopefully. Her heart leaped as she recognized Shadowsight’s gray tabby pelt moving across a slope in the distance. StarClan was definitely on her side. “Ask Shadowsight. He’ll vouch for me.” She raised her voice. “Shadowsight!”
Strikestone’s tail bushed angrily, but Shadowsight was already hurrying toward them.
“Bristlefrost?” The ShadowClan medicine cat looked surprised. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to speak to Squirrelflight.”
Shadowsight’s eyes widened. “How did you know she was here?”
“Rootpaw told me,” she mewed. “I know about Bramblestar’s ghost too, and I believe what you said about your visions.”
Shadowsight exchanged glances with his Clanmates, then beckoned Bristlefrost across the border with a flick of his tail. “Come with me.”
&n
bsp; She hurried after him as he headed toward camp. Strikestone and Yarrowleaf trailed behind, their pelts rippling uneasily.
“I think Bramblestar knows that cats have been meeting in secret,” Bristlefrost whispered as she caught up to Shadowsight.
“Has he said anything?”
“Not yet. But he’s been using some of our Clanmates as spies.”
“Be careful,” Shadowsight warned.
“I will.” Bristlefrost forced her fur flat as Shadowsight led her to the ShadowClan camp.
As they hurried through the entrance tunnel, Squirrelflight leaped to her paws. The former deputy looked thin and anxious. She hurried toward Bristlefrost, her eyes glittering with worry. “What are you doing here? Has something happened to ThunderClan?”
“The Clan’s all right for now, but Bramblestar is getting worse,” Bristlefrost told her.
“He’s not Bramblestar,” Squirrelflight snapped. “He’s an impostor.”
“I know.” She held Squirrelflight’s gaze. “But there’s nothing we can do. Every cat is so scared that they hardly dare speak to one another.”
Squirrelflight’s gaze darkened. “ShadowClan is going to support us,” she told Bristlefrost. “And once Shadowsight has told the other medicine cats what’s going on, the other Clans must support us. We can’t let this impostor turn the Clans against one another.”
Bristlefrost blinked at her. “Hasn’t he already done that?”
“It’s not too late,” Squirrelflight told her. “We can stop this before it becomes a war. But Bramblestar can’t know where I am. If he finds out that ShadowClan has been sheltering me, he’ll declare war, and we’re not ready to fight.”
Bristlefrost nodded. “I won’t tell him,” she promised. Her pads felt hot. What would she tell him? He wouldn’t be pleased to hear she’d failed to find out where Squirrelflight had gone, but she couldn’t tell him the truth. Perhaps a half-truth would convince him.
Squirrelflight held her gaze, her eyes as dark as the night sky. “Make sure he doesn’t find out.”
“Did you find her?” Bramblestar hurried across the clearing to meet Bristlefrost as she padded into camp.
“Yes.” She’d rolled in comfrey on the way back from the ShadowClan camp to disguise any scents he might detect on her pelt. “I found her in the Twolegplace.”
“Did you speak to her?” Bramblestar’s eyes were bright with interest.
“Yes.” At least that was true.
“What did she say?”
“She doesn’t know where she’s going next, but she says she’s never coming back here. She’s angry. She’s washed the Clans from her pelt for good.”
“She was always hotheaded.” Bramblestar’s tail twitched. “But I didn’t think she’d go to the Twolegplace.”
Bristlefrost shrugged, trying to look casual. “She said she was just passing through.”
Bramblestar’s gaze narrowed. “I hope you’re telling me the truth.” A growl rumbled in his throat.
Bristlefrost’s heart raced. “I wouldn’t lie to you,” she mewed quickly.
“You shouldn’t.” There was menace in his mew. “Because I’m sure you can imagine what I’d do to you if you did.”
Bristlefrost’s breath caught in her throat. Bramblestar stared at her, his gaze unwavering until a chill crept beneath her pelt. Does he know I’m working against him? She felt sick. Perhaps some cat had followed her after all. She wanted to scan the camp to see if Berrynose or Bumblestripe was there. But she didn’t dare take her eyes from Bramblestar. It was like watching a snake preparing to strike.
At last he turned away and padded to the shade beneath the Highledge.
Bristlefrost tried to stop herself from trembling. Am I safe in ThunderClan anymore?
Chapter 24
Shadowsight gazed into the black night sky. The half-moon dazzled him, shining brightly between the jagged pine tops. As soon as Rootpaw and Tree arrived, they’d leave for the Moonpool. He fluffed out his fur against the cold and glanced eagerly at the camp entrance. Paw steps were scuffing the earth beyond.
Puddleshine padded from the medicine den. “Are they here yet?”
“They’re coming.” As Shadowsight nodded toward the entrance, Rootpaw ducked into the camp, his gaze glittering nervously.
Tree padded after him. The yellow tom scanned the clearing. Most of the Clan had gone to their nests after a long day’s patrolling. But Scorchfur and Whorlpelt lingered outside the warriors’ den, watching Shadowsight and Puddleshine. Squirrelflight stood beside them, her pelt ruffled. They knew what this meeting could mean. If the medicine cats agreed that Bramblestar was an impostor, and that he meant to harm the Clans, it could lead to war. How else could the Clans drive him out?
Tree waited beside the entrance while Rootpaw hurried to meet Shadowsight.
“Are you ready?” Rootpaw mewed.
Shadowsight nodded. “I hope the other medicine cats will believe me.”
“It’ll be okay,” Puddleshine reassured him. The medicine cat padded toward the entrance. Shadowsight followed, wishing this were another cat’s problem.
“Be careful,” Scorchfur called.
Shadowsight glanced back at the dark gray warrior. “We’ll be back by dawn.”
“Wait!” Tigerstar burst from his den, Dovewing at his heels. Tigerstar’s gaze was dark.
Shadowsight halted, alarmed. “What’s wrong?”
“You mustn’t go,” Tigerstar told him.
Dovewing’s eyes shimmered with worry. “We’ve been talking. It’s too dangerous. You have to stay here.” She wove around Shadowsight protectively.
He ducked away from her. “But we have to tell the other Clans about Bramblestar.”
“Let Puddleshine tell them,” Tigerstar growled.
Tree frowned. “What are you worried about? Do you think the medicine cats will harm him?”
“Not the medicine cats.” Tigerstar fixed Shadowsight with his gaze. “But you said you felt a presence in the hollow the last time you were at the Moonpool, right?”
“Yes,” Shadowsight told him. “But it was just a feeling. I don’t think it can hurt me.”
Dovewing’s ears twitched. “We don’t know what we’re dealing with, but we know it’s powerful enough to silence StarClan and to steal Bramblestar’s body.”
Tigerstar nodded. “You should stay with your Clan, where you’re safe.”
Squirrelflight hurried toward them. “He must go,” she insisted. “Whoever’s been interfering with the Clans has been doing it through Shadowsight.”
Puddleshine nodded. “The medicine cats must be able to question him. They might see something he’s missed.”
Shadowsight lifted his tail. He didn’t need any cat to speak for him. He met Tigerstar’s gaze. “I’m going to do this,” he mewed firmly.
His father bristled. “But it’s dangerous!”
“I’m not a kit anymore.” Shadowsight lifted his muzzle. His father had to trust him. “I’m a medicine cat, and the Clans need my help.”
Tigerstar hesitated. Then he dipped his head. “You’re right,” he mewed. “We can’t stop you.”
Shadowsight blinked gratefully at his father. “Don’t worry—I’ll be careful. And I won’t be alone.”
Dovewing pressed her muzzle to Shadowsight’s cheek. “Come back as soon as you can.”
He rubbed his nose along her jaw. “I’ll be home by dawn.”
He turned before she could say any more and caught his father’s eye. Tigerstar was watching him, fear shadowing his gaze.
It was nearly moonhigh. There was no time to waste. Quickly, Shadowsight padded from the camp. Outside, the forest was swathed in shadow, and he strained to see ahead. He felt relieved as Rootpaw fell in beside him. The SkyClan apprentice’s face was grim. Behind them, Tree and Puddleshine followed in silence.
Rootpaw glanced at him. “What do you think the medicine cats will do once they know?”
“I hope they’ll tell the
ir leaders.” Shadowsight hopped over a trailing vine.
“If the Clans unite, it will be easy to drive out the impostor,” Tree mewed.
Puddleshine quickened his pace. “But how will the ghost get back into his body then?”
Shadowsight glanced at the medicine cat. “Let’s deal with one problem at a time.”
They pushed on in silence, following the track to where it rose toward the ThunderClan border.
“Let’s travel through the greenleaf Twolegplace,” Puddleshine suggested as they skirted a large bramble. “So we avoid crossing ThunderClan territory.”
“It’ll take longer to get there.” Shadowsight glanced at his Clanmate.
“It’s better to be cautious,” Puddleshine insisted. “ThunderClan can’t be trusted.”
Tree frowned. “Do you think Bramblestar might try to stop us?”
“He would if he knew what we were planning,” Puddleshine mewed.
Shadowsight stifled a shiver. The forest seemed suddenly darker. A shadow flitted high in the branches ahead.
Rootpaw’s gaze flashed toward it. “It’s just an owl.” The SkyClan apprentice sounded relieved. Was he spooked too?
The forest floor was cold beneath Shadowsight’s paws. He could hear prey scurrying through the undergrowth. A warbler was chattering in the distance. He padded closer to Rootpaw, reassured by the warmth pulsing from the tom’s pelt.
The warbler fell silent, and Shadowsight pricked his ears. Had something startled it? He glanced nervously ahead. Don’t be mouse-brained. He’d made this trip plenty of times without feeling scared. As he shook out his pelt, his heart lurched. A screech of pain sliced through the air.
Shadowsight stopped. Tree spun around, scanning the forest, while Rootpaw tasted the air.
“Do you smell anything?” Tree blinked at his son.
Rootpaw frowned. “I can only smell mint.”