“It can’t be.” Fallowtail circled her leader. “They wouldn’t invade in broad daylight!”
“Then why are they here?” Timberfur growled.
Crookedjaw glanced at the entrance. “I’ll try to head them off before they reach camp.”
Hailstar flattened his ears. “Take Rippleclaw and Ottersplash with you.”
“Where’s Oakheart?” Crookedjaw scanned the camp.
“Fishing,” Echomist told him. “He went out with Lakeshine and Shimmerpelt just after dawn.”
“Find him and tell him what’s going on,” Crookedjaw ordered.
Echomist nodded and headed for the entrance.
“Not that way!” he hissed. “I don’t want you bumping into ThunderClan. Go out through the reed bed.”
Echomist slid into the water and disappeared among the reeds. Crookedjaw signaled to Ottersplash and Rippleclaw with his tail. “Let’s go meet our visitors.” He led the way through the tunnel.
Behind them, Hailstar started snapping orders. “Tell the elders to stay in their den,” he growled. “And guard it. I want three warriors by the nursery.”
Crookedjaw narrowed his eyes against the drizzle. The next bend might lead them into a bristling ThunderClan patrol. He unsheathed his claws. No ThunderClan cat would get past him.
“I hear them!” Ottersplash halted.
Crookedjaw pricked his ears. The invaders were chatting as though they were visiting Clanmates! He growled and darted around the corner with his hackles up. He skidded to a halt in front of Sunstar. The ThunderClan leader signaled to his patrol with his tail.
Crookedjaw unsheathed his claws. “What are you doing on RiverClan territory?”
Bluefur, Whitestorm, Thrushpelt, and Lionheart fanned out behind their leader, but Crookedjaw kept his gaze fixed on Sunstar.
“We want to talk with Hailstar.” The ThunderClan leader sounded as though he were asking a Clanmate for a piece of fresh-kill.
“About what?” Ottersplash thrust her muzzle forward.
Sunstar narrowed his eyes. “You expect me to share words that are meant for your leader?”
Ottersplash snarled. Keep calm. Crookedjaw waved the she-cat back with his tail. “You expect me to lead you straight into our camp?” he countered.
“Do we look like a battle patrol?” Sunstar glanced back at his warriors. Their pelts were smooth, their gaze curious. Bluefur was whispering to Whitestorm.
Crookedjaw tilted his head. “It would take more than this to overrun our camp,” he agreed. Unless there’s a second patrol hidden somewhere. He tasted the air but scented nothing.
Sunstar lifted his chin. “We only wish to share words.”
Crookedjaw nodded. His Clan was prepared. “Follow me.” He turned and headed toward the camp, uncomfortable with ThunderClan warriors at his tail, but forcing his hackles down. The rain pattered around them as they followed the path through the reeds. Crookedjaw entered the clearing first, leaving Ottersplash and Rippleclaw to escort the patrol behind him.
Timberfur and Owlfur were prowling beside the reed bed, their hackles raised. Cedarpelt stood guard by the elders’ den. Loudbelly, Sunfish, Sedgecreek, and Reedtail clustered protectively around the nursery. Softwing huddled between them with her kits.
Lionheart stared around the camp as though it were filled with walking fish. “Why do they live in such uncomfortable-looking dens?”
Crookedjaw growled. “They float if it floods.” Where’s Hailstar? He tasted the air. The RiverClan leader’s scent pooled in his den. Crookedjaw understood. Hailstar clearly didn’t want ThunderClan to think they were worried. “Wait here,” he told Sunstar. He padded to the willow and ducked into Hailstar’s den.
Hailstar was sitting in his nest, his eyes sharp in the gloom. “Well?”
“They’re here. Only a pawful of warriors. No sign of another patrol.”
“Good.” Hailstar nodded. “Come on.” He led the way into the clearing and stood beneath the willow looking at Sunstar, his gaze more curious than anxious. Sunstar watched him and, when Hailstar didn’t speak, dipped his head.
“Sunningrocks belong to ThunderClan. We are taking them back.”
Sunningrocks belong to RiverClan! Crookedjaw fought to keep his pelt smooth, praying his Clanmates would stay calm. The camp was no place for a battle.
Hailstar unsheathed his claws. “You’ll have to fight for them.”
“We’ll fight if we have to,” Sunstar meowed. “But we thought we’d give you fair warning.”
Timberfur padded forward, pelt bristling. “Are you threatening us in our own camp?” he growled.
“We’re not threatening you,” Sunstar answered calmly.
Crookedjaw steadied his breathing. This was a contest of nerves, not claws.
“We’re giving you a choice,” Sunstar went on. “If you keep off Sunningrocks, we’ll leave you alone. But any cat who sets paw there will be shredded.”
Hailstar took a step forward. “Do you really think we’ll give up the rocks so easily?”
“If you prefer a battle, then we’ll fight,” Sunstar repeated. “But are the rocks worth it?” He tipped his head on one side. “You have the river to fish in. Your paws are too big to reach far into the cracks of Sunningrocks; your pelts are too clearly marked to stalk prey there. It is no use for RiverClan’s ways of hunting. Is it worth fighting for?”
Mudfur’s brown pelt flickered at the edge of Crookedjaw’s vision. It was what the medicine cat apprentice had argued all along, that Sunningrocks were not worth the number of RiverClan lives that had been lost. But would Hailstar agree this time?
The RiverClan leader opened his mouth to scent the air. “I smell fear,” he snarled.
“Then it comes from your own warriors,” Sunstar snapped.
“You actually expect us to give up Sunningrocks?” Hailstar hissed.
Sunstar shook his head. “I expect you to fight for them,” he meowed. “Even though you will waste warriors and blood. You will lose, and it will be thanks to your decision.”
Hailstar took a step toward the ThunderClan leader. “RiverClan warriors fight with claws, not words.”
“Very well.” Sunstar nodded. “Sunningrocks are ours. We will set the new markers tomorrow. After that, any RiverClan cat found there will face a fight that he will not win.” He gazed around the camp and raised his voice. “Let all of RiverClan know that the warning has been given. Any blood spilled now will be on Hailstar’s paws.” He turned and headed for the entrance.
Crookedjaw stared after them, stunned by their arrogance.
Timberfur shot forward. “How dare they?” He growled at the disappearing patrol.
“Make sure they leave the territory!” Hailstar nodded at Ottersplash and Timberfur. “Escort them to the border.”
The two warriors raced out of camp.
“When are we going to fight?” Sedgecreek appeared beside Crookedjaw, dancing from paw to paw.
Frogleap trotted up behind her. “It’ll be our first battle!”
Loudbelly and Sunfish crowded around, with Leopardfur and Skyheart trying to push past them.
“Stand still!” Crookedjaw tried to think. They needed a battle strategy. With so many eager young warriors, victory would be easy. He looked at Hailstar. “We should fight with two patrols,” he meowed, remembering his first battle at Sunningrocks. “If not three.”
“Wait.” The RiverClan leader slowly swished his tail. “This may not be a battle worth fighting.”
“What?” Sunfish stared at him.
“Of course it’s worth fighting!” Frogleap gasped.
“Quiet!” Crookedjaw flicked his tail. “Your leader’s speaking.”
“We’ll discuss this in my den, Crookedjaw.” Hailstar cast a thoughtful gaze over the young warriors, then he headed for his den.