“This isn’t Bramblestar’s fault.” Squirrelflight lifted her chin. “Your father is just doing what he thinks is right.”
“And he doesn’t care who gets hurt!”
Daisy padded tentatively forward. “Bramblestar would never hurt any cat.”
“He just wants peace,” Squirrelflight chimed. “That’s why he’s trying to appease WindClan, and why he won’t join a war against the Sisters.”
Sparkpelt flattened her ears. “So it’s okay if Larksong dies, as long as WindClan and the Sisters are happy!”
“No!” Frustration scorched Squirrelflight’s pelt. Sparkpelt didn’t know what she was saying. “Larksong’s not ill because of what Bramblestar has done.”
“I don’t believe you!” Sparkpelt hissed. “If Bramblestar hadn’t gone against Tigerstar so many times, Larksong would be fine now!”
The brambles rustled at the entrance. “What’s going on?” Bramblestar nosed his way in, anxiety glittering in his gaze. “I heard yowling.”
Daisy looked at him anxiously. “Sparkpelt’s upset, that’s all. She’s had a difficult day.”
Sparkpelt snarled at him. “Do you admit it?”
“Admit what?” He looked taken aback.
“If you hadn’t done everything you could to make Tigerstar angry, Larksong would be fine now!” Sparkpelt’s eyes narrowed into slits.
Bramblestar stared at her, his pelt ruffling along his spine. “I don’t understand.” He glanced questioningly at Squirrelflight.
“She’s worried that ShadowClan might have poisoned the fresh-kill pile when they visited the camp earlier.” Squirrelflight shifted uneasily. She was angry with Bramblestar, but he didn’t deserve this. He had enough worries already. And yet Sparkpelt was clearly suffering. Please don’t argue.
Bramblestar tipped his head to one side and blinked at Sparkpelt. “How could they have poisoned the prey? We were all here watching them.”
“They’ve done it before!” Sparkpelt hissed.
Daisy looked anxiously from father to daughter. “Juniperclaw did that, and he’s dead now,” she repeated.
“All ShadowClan cats are the same.” Sparkpelt flexed her claws. “They’d poison their own mothers for more territory.”
“That’s not true.” Squirrelflight edged closer to Sparkpelt. She had to calm her down. This couldn’t be doing the kits any good. “ShadowClan cats are warriors just like us. They wouldn’t break the warrior code.”
Sparkpelt held her ground. “They would if they were pushed far enough, and Bramblestar has done nothing but get in Tigerstar’s way.” She glared accusingly at her father.
“Bramblestar’s been doing what’s best for the Clans,” Squirrelflight argued.
“Why are you sticking up for him?” Sparkpelt stared at her. “He’s hardly spoken to you in days. He’s been treating you like an apprentice. And you’re defending him! Why are you being such a mouse-heart?”
Bramblestar’s hackles lifted. “Don’t talk to your mother like that!” he hissed. “I don’t care how upset you are. Hurting cats who love you isn’t going to help Larksong. It’s just going to make everyone as miserable as you are. I’m sorry Larksong is ill, and we’ll do everything we can to make sure he gets well again, but don’t accuse your mother of being a mouse-heart. She’s one of the bravest warriors I know. And I am doing everything I can to keep peace among the Clans. I have to stand up to Tigerstar, or he’ll push SkyClan around forever.” Hurt glittered suddenly in the ThunderClan leader’s gaze. “It’s hard standing up for what you believe in, and it’s even harder when the cats who are supposed to support you undermine you instead.”
As his gaze flashed from Sparkpelt to Squirrelflight, claws seemed to pierce Squirrelflight’s heart. Bramblestar’s tail swept the ground. “I’m trying to lead a Clan! How can I expect my warriors to follow me if my own kin challenge me at every turn?” Growling, he pushed his way out of the den.
Daisy shifted her paws. “It’s been a difficult day for everyone.” She gazed sympathetically at Squirrelflight. “Why don’t you get some air, and I’ll make sure Sparkpelt rests.”
Sparkpelt was staring after her father, her eyes hollow with grief. “I’m sorry.” She dragged her gaze to Squirrelflight.
“It’s okay,” Squirrelflight murmured. “I know you’re upset.” She felt suddenly weary. “You’ll feel better in the morning. And I’m sure Leafpool will have found a way to help Larksong by then.” She touched her nose to Sparkpelt’s head, then headed out of the den, relieved to leave her daughter in Daisy’s care for a while. She crossed to the medicine den. Had Leafpool, Jayfeather, and Alderheart come up with a cure? She ducked inside, disappointment dropping like a stone in her belly as she saw Leafpool and Jayfeather murmuring, heads close together at the back of the cave. They looked as worried as ever, and Alderheart was wiping another drop of bile from Larksong’s lips.
Lilyheart, Larksong’s mother, sat beside the nest, her eyes round with worry. She blinked at Squirrelflight when she saw her. “What could have caused this?”
Squirrelflight shook her head. “We don’t know.”
“Could it be deathberry poisoning?” Lilyheart fretted.
“There are no deathberries in the camp,” Squirrelflight meowed, irritated.
“ShadowClan might have brought some. We know Puddleshine uses them.”
Leafpool looked up. “This isn’t deathberry poisoning. We don’t recognize these symptoms.”
Lilyheart’s pelt bristled. “They might have found another poison!”
Squirrelflight fixed Lilyheart’s gaze with her own. “ShadowClan had nothing to do with this.” She mustn’t let rumors about ShadowClan’s involvement in Larksong’s illness take hold. There was enough tension among the Clans already. “Larksong’s illness is a shock and a tragedy. He’s always been a strong, healthy warrior, and it’s frightening to see him get so sick so quickly. But we’re going to find out what caused it.” She eyed Leafpool desperately. “And we’re going to find out how to cure it.” Fear wormed in her belly as Leafpool’s gaze darkened. She was making Lilyheart promises they might not be able to keep, but she had to give the small, dark tabby hope. This sickness had come from nowhere. It could have been caused by anything. Larksong might be only the first cat to be struck down by a sickness the Clans had never experienced before. And if it spread, hope might be all that ThunderClan had.
CHAPTER 15
“I’m coming with you.” Squirrelflight squared her shoulders as she faced Jayfeather.
Jayfeather narrowed his eyes. “This is between medicine cats.”
Alderheart shifted beside the blind tom. “We’re going to talk to Puddleshine, to see if he has seen anything like Larksong’s sickness in ShadowClan.”
“I have to put the Clan’s minds at rest,” Squirrelflight insisted. Through the night, rumors that ShadowClan had been the cause of Larksong’s sickness had spread like fleas through the Clan. By morning, as the rain clouds cleared from above the camp, her Clanmates had barely listened to her orders for the day’s patrols.
Lionblaze had paced the clearing with ruffled fur. “We should send a patrol to ShadowClan.”
“They can’t get away with poisoning a second Clan,” Cinderheart had agreed.
Around them, Poppyfrost, Cherryfall, and Molewhisker had nodded, murmuring their agreement.
Bramblestar had scrambled down from the Highledge and stood beside Squirrelflight. “We don’t have any proof that ShadowClan caused this. And there’s so much tension among the Clans that an accusation like this might lead to war.”
The warriors had backed down and, grumbling, gone on patrol. But Squirrelflight was convinced that the rumors would rumble on unless some cat investigated the claims of poisoning.