CHAPTER 22
Alderheart stifled a shiver and paced along the scent line. He’d been waiting with Bramblestar at the ShadowClan border since sunhigh. The storm rocked the trees and rain trickled through the canopy. “Can we just cross it?”
“No.” Bramblestar shook drops from his whiskers. “We’ll wait for a patrol to take us to the camp. I don’t want to start the meeting on the wrong paw.”
It had been two days since Alderheart had told Bramblestar that Juniperclaw had stolen deathberry seeds from the medicine den, and Bramblestar was finally willing to travel to ShadowClan and discuss the matter with Tigerstar. “There needs to be peace between the Clans,” he had told Alderheart that morning. “And you were right. How can that happen when a rogue-hearted cat is a deputy? How could he ever be trusted? What if he becomes leader?”
Alderheart had greeted the news with relief. He could see from his father’s face that Bramblestar wasn’t optimistic about their mission but that, with the storm worsening by the day, he clearly felt he couldn’t ignore the problem any longer.
Now Alderheart peered into ShadowClan territory, hoping to glimpse a patrol. “Tigerstar will have to listen,” he mewed.
“Tigerstar is young,” Bramblestar cautioned. “And he has a lot to prove after running away and then returning with a ThunderClan mate and half-Clan kits. It will be hard for him to admit that he chose badly when he made Juniperclaw deputy.”
“But he has to face it,” Alderheart pressed. “Juniperclaw tried to murder another cat. Tigerstar can’t let him get away with that.”
“Tigerstar can do what he likes.” Bramblestar’s eyes were dark. “I don’t know whether he will admit his mistake or cover it up.”
“He can’t cover it up!”
“Why not?” Bramblestar scanned the ShadowClan forest. “He’s ambitious, and he has the unquestioning loyalty of his Clan.”
Paw steps thrummed beyond the brambles. Bramblestar pricked his ears.
“Here they come.” Alderheart fluffed out his fur and watched as Strikestone, Blazepaw, and Snaketooth burst from the bushes.
They pulled up at the border. Snaketooth’s pelt bristled as she saw Bramblestar. “What are you doing here?”
“I want to speak with Tigerstar.” Bramblestar gazed at her calmly.
Strikestone narrowed his eyes. “Why?”
“Isn’t the storm keeping you busy?” Snaketooth growled. “We thought you’d be preparing for a flood.”
Blazepaw tipped his head. “Perhaps the sun is shining in ThunderClan territory.”
Strikestone curled his lip. “The sun always shines on ThunderClan,” he mewed sarcastically.
Bramblestar flicked his tail impatiently. “I don’t have time for this,” he told them. “Take me to Tigerstar.”
Strikestone and Snaketooth exchanged glances.
“Okay.” Strikestone lifted his muzzle. “But hurry up. We have so much territory to patrol now that SkyClan is gone.”
“And plenty of prey to hunt.” Snaketooth beckoned Bramblestar across the border with her tail.
Alderheart’s pelt prickled nervously as he followed. Had ShadowClan forgotten the vision? “Aren’t you worried now that SkyClan has left?”
“Why?” Snaketooth began to head toward the ShadowClan camp. “It’s what we wanted.”
Alderheart was surprised by her indifference. “What about the storm?” Surely they could see that the vision was coming true?
“Storms pass,” Strikestone grunted. “We’ve survived worse.”
Alderheart glanced at Bramblestar. His father was staring ahead, his gaze unreadable. Only the faintest prickle along his spine betrayed his unease. Alderheart padded beside him as Strikestone, Snaketooth, and Blazepaw flanked them. His optimism was fading. ShadowClan clearly didn’t regret driving SkyClan away. Perhaps they wouldn’t care what Juniperclaw had done.
They ducked into the camp after Strikestone. Blazepaw and Snaketooth followed them in. Cloverfoot and Scorchfur were sharing a mouse beside the fresh-kill pile. Rain pounded their pelts. The overhanging alder and pine gave little shelter, and the wide clearing was slick with mud. Tawnypelt sat at the edge. Her fur was wet, but she made no effort to move, even when she saw Bramblestar.
Scorchfur looked up, chewing. He blinked at the patrol and jumped to his paws. “Bramblestar’s here with Alderheart,” he called as he hurried to Tigerstar’s den.
Tigerstar padded out, with Dovewing just behind him. The leader’s gaze was wary. He’s clearly wondering why we’ve come, Alderheart thought.
The dark brown tom stopped at the edge of the clearing and stared at Bramblestar. “Welcome.”
Bramblestar stopped a tail-length from the ShadowClan leader. He shifted his paws uneasily. “Have you heard about RiverClan’s flood?” he began.
“We’ve seen it for ourselves,” Tigerstar told him.
“RiverClan is sheltering with WindClan,” Alderheart told him.
“They could have come to us,” Tigerstar meowed evenly. “We have enough prey now to spare for a Clan driven from its home.”
But not SkyClan. Alderheart swallowed back the words. Instead he glanced toward the medicine den. “How is Shadowkit?”
“Still having the same vision.” Tigerstar stood unflinching in the rain. “But the fits have eased. It comes as bad dreams now.”
“You must be worried.” Alderheart blinked at him sympathetically.
“Nothing will happen to him.” Tigerstar swished his tail. “I don’t intend to let him out of my sight.”
How could he be so sure that the kit’s vision wouldn’t come true? “But with the flooding, aren’t you—”
Bramblestar cut him off. “I’m sure Tigerstar knows how to take care of his own kit.”
As he spoke, Pouncekit and Lightkit came bounding out of the nursery. Dovewing raised her tail at them, to tell them to settle down. Then she looked to Bramblestar. “Is that all you came to speak to us about?”
Bramblestar shook his head. “No . . . There’s something else we need to discuss.”
“Alderheart!” Puddleshine appeared at the medicine-den entrance. He blinked happily across the clearing. Alderheart dipped his head to his friend but didn’t move. The damp air seemed to crackle with tension. Puddleshine’s eyes darkened as though he sensed it.
Tigerstar’s gaze was fixed on Bramblestar. “What?”
He knows. Alderheart shifted his paws uneasily. He’d accused Juniperclaw when he’d visited last, and the ShadowClan leader must have guessed what they had come to discuss. But he’s going to make Bramblestar say it out loud.
“Alderheart has told me that Juniperclaw was seen taking deathberry seeds from the medicine den, and that Violetshine saw him afterward beside the SkyClan fresh-kill pile.” Bramblestar spoke slowly.
Dovewing pricked her ears, clearly surprised. Tawnypelt padded closer, while Cloverfoot stopped chewing the mouse she’d been eating.
Strikestone showed his teeth. “Are you accusing my littermate of poisoning Sparrowpelt?”
Tigerstar signaled silence with a sharp flick of his tail. He didn’t take his eyes from Bramblestar. “I thought I’d made my position clear,” he growled softly. “SkyClan has left. The matter is closed.”
“Tigerstar?” Dovewing hurried to his side. “Is this true? Did Juniperclaw use poison?” Her pelt bristled anxiously. Alderheart felt a pang for his former Clanmate. It must be a shock to find that her new Clan was capable of such ruthlessness.
Tigerstar looked at her. “Alderheart has convinced himself that it’s true.”
“Is it?” Dovewing’s mew trembled.
Tigerstar hesitated.