“I warned you he’d react badly.”
“We can’t live in fear of what Tigerstar might do.”
“But what Tigerstar does matters, whether you like it or not.”
Squirrelflight shifted her paws uneasily. “He seems determined to drive the Sisters off their land.”
“Would it be such a bad thing if he did?” Bramblestar stared at her darkly.
Squirrelflight blinked back at him, shocked. “Moonlight’s expecting kits,” she gasped. “We have to protect them.”
Exasperation seemed to flash in his gaze. Was he irritated that she was still worrying about kits? “And who will protect Sparkpelt’s kits if Tigerstar finds out we’re sheltering his sworn enemy?”
Squirrelflight’s heart lurched. “He won’t find out!”
“We won’t give him the chance.” Bramblestar watched their Clanmates disappear into the long grass. “Sunrise and her campmates must leave our territory tonight.”
CHAPTER 11
Squirrelflight leaped down from the tree-bridge and headed along the shore. She could see the shapes of ShadowClan and WindClan, moving like shadows over the stony beach as they trekked back to their territories. RiverClan had already crossed the shore and disappeared into the marshes. Her paws pricked. How was she going to break the news to the Sisters that they had to leave now, in the middle of the night?
Pebbles crunched behind her as Alderheart hurried at her heels.
She glanced at him as he fell in beside her. “Do you think Sunrise is well enough to travel?” she asked.
“She’ll be okay if her campmates help her.” Alderheart gazed across the lake as though his thoughts were elsewhere. “And she can rest once she’s home.”
“Do you think it’s fair?” Squirrelflight’s tail twitched.
“Do I think what’s fair?” Alderheart looked at her.
“To make them leave. Now. Before they’re ready?”
Alderheart returned her gaze steadily. “I think it’s for the best.”
“For whose best?” Squirrelflight asked crossly.
“Every cat’s.” Alderheart’s hopped over a rotting branch that had washed onto the shore. “The Sisters will be safer on their own territory. And our Clanmates will be happier knowing they’re gone. If Tigerstar wants war, it’s dangerous having them in camp.”
Squirrelflight looked away. She knew Alderheart was right, but she wished the Sisters could have seen ThunderClan at its best. Her Clanmates hadn’t always been so unwelcoming and defensive. The Sisters had come at a bad time.
The patrol trailed behind them, murmuring to one another. Bumblestripe and Honeyfur walked side by side. Hollytuft shadowed Jayfeather while Bristlepaw and Thriftpaw padded behind. Bramblestar hung back with Thornclaw. As they neared camp, Squirrelflight’s heart quickened. She wanted to break the news to the Sisters before Bramblestar ordered them out of camp. She turned and called to Bramblestar. “I’m going ahead to tell Leafpool that Sunrise has to leave.”
Bramblestar narrowed his eyes. “Okay.” He nodded to Bumblestripe. “Go with her.”
Squirrelflight stiffened. Was he sending Bumblestripe to keep her safe, or because he didn’t trust her? What did he think she would do? Hole up in the medicine den and fight for the Sisters to stay?
She nodded politely and pulled away from the patrol, breaking into a run. Bumblestripe fell in beside her and matched her, paw step for paw step, as she zigzagged between ferns and veered onto the rabbit trail that would bring her out close to the camp entrance. It was too narrow to run side by side here, and she slipped into the lead, speeding up as she neared home. She ducked first through the thorn tunnel and hurried into camp.
The clearing was hidden in shadow. The Clan must be asleep. Only Whitewing’s pelt showed on the far side of the clearing, bright in the moonlight. She hurried forward as she saw Squirrelflight. “Did ShadowClan know the Sisters are here?” she whispered anxiously.
“No.” Squirrelflight flicked her tail as Bumblestripe followed her into camp. “Bumblestripe will tell you what happened.” As Whitewing turned away Squirrelflight padded quickly to the elders’ den. She stuck her head through the entrance. The scent of the Sisters bathed her muzzle and she blinked, adjusting to the darkness. “Snow? Are you awake?”
The white she-cat lifted her head and blinked sleepily in the shadows. “What’s happened?”
“You have to leave tonight,” Squirrelflight told her.
Tempest jerked her head up. “Right now?” Alarm glittered in the tabby’s bright gaze.
“As soon as Bramblestar gets back,” Squirrelflight told her. “He wants you to leave tonight. He’s following with the rest of the patrol. They’ll be here soon.”
Hawk scrambled to her paws. “Is Sunrise well enough to travel?”
“I hope so. I’m going to see Leafpool now,” Squirrelflight blinked at her. “She’ll know what to do.” She ducked out of the elders’ den, sensing Bumblestripe’s gaze as she crossed the clearing. She ignored it and nosed her way through the brambles that draped the entrance to the medicine den.
Leafpool was sitting beside Sunrise’s nest, her face hidden in shadow. She pricked her ears as Squirrelflight slid inside. “Was the Gathering okay?”
Sunrise shifted in her nest. “Did ShadowClan make trouble?” Anxiety glittered in her gaze.
Squirrelflight crossed the den. “ShadowClan wants to declare war against the Sisters. Leafstar and Bramblestar convinced them to hold off until we hear from StarClan.” She gazed evenly at Sunrise. “But Bramblestar says you have to leave here tonight.”
Leafpool’s pelt prickled. “Tonight?” She glanced anxiously at Sunrise’s wound. Squirrelflight guessed what she was thinking. The gash had closed, but a mistimed jump or a fall could reopen it. And the infection had sapped the she-cat’s strength.
“I’ve warned Snow.” As Squirrelflight spoke, the white she-cat pushed her way into the den, Tempest and Hawk at her heels. They crowded inside, appearing bigger than ever in the tight hollow.
Snow blinked at Leafpool. “Is she well enough to travel?”
Leafpool shifted her paws. “She’ll have to be. If ShadowClan is talking war, it’s too dangerous for you to stay.”
“War?” Hawk asked, her eyes wide. “You didn’t mention that before. Do you really think the other cats would attack because you’ve helped us?”
“You attacked their warriors,” Leafpool replied evenly. “They would see it as defending their own.”
“But we were only defending our own,” Tempest meowed.
Leafpool’s ear twitched irritably. “We could argue about who was in the right all day. What matters is that you must leave if we want to avoid violence.” She caught Squirrelflight’s eye nervously.
Does she think I’m going to argue? Squirrelflight felt uneasy about sending Sunrise home while she was still weak, but she realized Alderheart had been right, and Leafpool clearly felt the same way—if ShadowClan, WindClan, and RiverClan were ready to start a war with the Sisters, they wouldn’t be safe here, and their presence would put ThunderClan in danger.
Leafpool flicked her tail. “I’ll make up a bundle of herbs for you to take.” She padded toward the cleft in the rock at the back of the den where the herbs were stored. “I hope you can find more when you get home.” She crouched and began tugging leaves from the shadowy crack. “Use marigold, and goldenrod if you can find it. That wound will need to be kept clean until it’s fully healed.”
Snow dipped her head. “We are grateful for your care, Leafpool. Sunrise would have died without you.”