A rustling sounded at the entrance to the den, and Tigerstar stepped inside. “I’d like a word with my son in private,” he meowed with a nod to Puddleshine.
Once Puddleshine was gone, Tigerstar padded up to Shadowpaw and touched noses with him. “I always knew you were special,” he announced. “We don’t know yet what your destiny is among the five Clans, but what I do know is that you will change things.”
Shadowpaw listened uneasily. He wasn’t sure that he wanted to hear what his father was telling him. Why has StarClan chosen me? Why can’t I be an ordinary medicine cat, like Puddleshine?
Tigerstar’s expression became more serious, and he rested his tail on his son’s shoulder. “Still, you mustn’t tell the other Clans about the message you received about codebreakers. Not yet, anyway,” he added hastily. “Not until we’re sure what it means . . .”
Shadowpaw glimpsed apprehension in his father’s eyes; he realized that Tigerstar was worried. He and Dovewing had broken the code. What would happen to them if the message was revealed? “I won’t,” he promised, feeling that he had no choice but to obey his father.
Relief spread across Tigerstar’s face, and he gave Shadowpaw’s ear an approving lick. “Get some rest; you’ve had a tough time,” he advised before he padded out of the den.
Shadowpaw was thankful to be left alone, but he felt more uneasy than ever. If I am the Clans’ only connection to StarClan, how can I be loyal to all of them, and to my parents, at the same time?
Shadowpaw had expected an atmosphere of rejoicing at the emergency Gathering; every cat should be glad and relieved that Bramblestar had returned from the dead, proving that StarClan had not forsaken the living Clans. Instead, as soon as ShadowClan thrust their way through the bushes into the clearing, he was aware of suspicious glances, shoulder fur rising, with here and there a hiss of hostility.
Tigerstar ignored it all, holding his head high as he crossed the clearing and leaped into the branches of the Great Oak. The other Clan leaders were already there. Cloverfoot joined the rest of the deputies on the tree roots, while Shadowpaw, with Puddleshine beside him, padded over to sit with their fellow medicine cats. He kept his head lowered, not wanting to meet any other cat’s gaze.
Once every cat was settled, Bramblestar announced, “Let the Gathering begin.”
Risking a glance upward, Shadowpaw saw the ThunderClan leader standing strong and proud at the end of a thick branch that jutted out into the clearing. This time there was enough moonlight to see him clearly: his muscular body, his sleek tabby fur and gleaming amber eyes. Shadowpaw could hardly believe that this was the same cat who had lain, scrawny and unmoving, in the snow den. The ThunderClan leader was gazing around him, his expression filled with wonder, as if he too was finding it hard to believe that he was still alive.
“I’m pleased to see you all again,” Bramblestar continued. “I’ve called this Gathering to discuss what happened to me, and the messages Shadowpaw has received from StarClan. Would any of the Clan leaders like to begin?”
“I will,” Harestar responded at once, rising to his paws on a branch a little way above Bramblestar. He gazed down at Shadowpaw, his eyes warm and appreciative. “I’m impressed with what I’ve heard,” he meowed. “I know Tigerstar believes his son has a unique connection to StarClan, and after what he did for Bramblestar, I think he might have a point.”
Shadowpaw relaxed a little when he realized he had at least one supporter from another Clan, but his belly clenched with nervousness as Kestrelflight rose to speak from the group of medicine cats. There was a doubtful expression in his eyes as he looked at Shadowpaw, then turned to address all the assembled cats.
“Does any cat think it’s strange that only ShadowClan can communicate with StarClan now?” he asked. “After all, if you think back, a lot of our problems started with ShadowClan. They allowed Darktail in, and that caused their Clan to fall apart, so that for a while they had to merge with SkyClan.”
Murmurs arose from among the SkyClan cats as Kestrelflight spoke, and a few of them cast unfriendly glances toward the warriors of ShadowClan.
Mothwing moved to join the WindClan medicine cat. “Kestrelflight has a point. And it was ShadowClan who wanted all their old territory back,” she added. “That almost caused SkyClan to leave, against the wishes of StarClan.”
Jayfeather turned toward Mothwing, the tip of his tail twitching. “What do you know?” he snapped. “You don’t really believe in StarClan, anyway.”
Gasps of horror came from the cats in the clearing. Shadowpaw looked around, realizing that none of the warriors had been aware of Mothwing’s disbelief.
Mothwing looked as if she could hardly believe Jayfeather had said this in a Gathering. “I don’t believe that’s relevant,” she hissed.
Jayfeather twitched his tail in irritation. “It couldn’t be more relevant. And it’s obvious to every cat, every time you open your mouth to talk about StarClan.”
By now all the cats were staring at Mothwing, uneasiness or plain hostility in their eyes. But Mothwing remained calm. “Actually,” she began, “as I’ve already told you, after some thought, I can no longer deny that StarClan exists. But it’s strange that they’re only communicating with Shadowpaw, who is just an apprentice.”
Clamor erupted around the clearing, some cats yowling in support of Shadowpaw, while others voiced their suspicions of him.
“He saved Bramblestar!”
“What are the other medicine cats doing for us?”
“This is all a ShadowClan plot!”
Shadowpaw squeezed his eyes shut and tried to shrink himself into the smallest space possible. He wished that he could flee out of the clearing and run back to his home in the ShadowClan camp. He hated to feel every cat’s gaze on him and listen to their voices screeching about his visions and his loyalty.
Finally he heard his father’s voice raised loudly above the rest. “Quiet! This is no time for arguments!”
Gradually the noise began to die down. As soon as he could make himself heard without yowling, Tigerstar continued. “What does it matter if Shadowpaw is the only cat who can receive messages from StarClan while the Moonpool is frozen? It’s probably because his connection to our ancestors is so strong.”
Frecklewish let out a disdainful snort. “Do you really believe that?”
“I do believe it,” Tigerstar mewed emphatically. “All I know is a leader was brought back to life. That should be enough for every cat gathered here.”
Shadowpaw relaxed a little, daring to look up again; he was grateful for his father’s support, though he could still hear uneasy muttering among the warriors.
“There is one way to settle this,” Jayfeather stated. “If Bramblestar could tell us what he saw when he visited StarClan . . .”
The gaze of every cat turned toward Bramblestar, who still stood on his branch, his head raised as he stared out above the heads of the cats assembled below. A few moments passed before he startled, seeming to notice the silence, as if he didn’t realize that every cat was waiting for him to answer a question.
“Could you tell us what you saw when you lost your life?” Jayfeather repeated. “Were you in StarClan?”
Bramblestar seemed to gather himself, as if the question needed some thought. Finally he nodded. “Yes, I’m quite sure I was.”
“Did they speak to you before you took up your next life?” Harestar asked.
“They did.”
“And what did they say?” Mistystar spoke for the first time, in a voice full of anxiety. “Did they give you any guidance you can pass on to the rest of us?”
Bramblestar turned toward her, his amber gaze unfriendly. “Mistystar, you are a Clan leader. You know as well as I do that what passes between us and StarClan is not to be spoken of to any cat. It is private, and I for one prefer it to stay that way.”