Spotfur’s eyes glittered anxiously. “We didn’t expect so many cats to be here.”
As the warriors eyed one another warily, Rootpaw moved closer to Tree. He fluffed out his pelt, trying not to think about how much trouble Stemleaf and his Clanmates would be in if Bramblestar found out about this meeting.
Frecklewish nosed her way in beside Rootpaw. “I don’t know what good this will do,” she whispered in his ear. “But maybe some cat has a plan.”
Stemleaf looked around at the gathered cats. “Thanks for coming,” he told them. “I know it was hard to get away from your Clans. But I think it’s really important that we’re here.”
Breezepelt narrowed his eyes. “Do you really think we can stop what’s happening to the Clans?”
“Nothing would be happening to the Clans if it weren’t for Bramblestar,” Whorlpelt stared accusingly at the ThunderClan cats.
Sneezecloud nodded. “He’s the one who wants to make an example of the codebreakers.”
Frecklewish frowned. “He does seem to have StarClan on his side.”
The gathered cats hesitated, glancing uneasily at Frecklewish.
She pressed on. “Shadowsight’s latest vision agreed with what he’s been saying these past moons. It sounds like they want the codebreakers punished too.”
Stemleaf’s gaze darkened. “I know,” he mewed grimly. “If we stand up to Bramblestar, we’ll be challenging StarClan.”
Rootpaw shifted his paws. “Perhaps StarClan doesn’t want the codebreakers to suffer as much as Bramblestar does,” he ventured. “Perhaps they only want them to acknowledge that they’ve broken the code.”
Spotfur frowned. “Not every codebreaker knows what they’ve done wrong.”
Twigbranch’s ears twitched. “I wish I knew exactly what I’ve done wrong,” she mewed. “I’d happily own up to it if I did. I’ve only ever wanted to be a loyal warrior.”
Cloverfoot met her gaze. “All the codebreakers want to be loyal warriors. I don’t understand why they must be punished.”
“Bramblestar seems intent on making life miserable for the codebreakers in ThunderClan,” Finleap mewed, shaking his head.
“Banishing cats!” Outrage edged Cloverfoot’s mew. “Clans are supposed to stick together, not turn their backs on their Clanmates.”
“We’re meant to support one another through good times and bad,” Sneezecloud mewed.
Slightfoot’s pelt twitched. “Warriors are honorable because they want to be, not because they’re scared of being punished!”
“We look after our Clanmates because we care about them,” Whorlpelt chimed. “Not just because we’re obeying rules.”
Frecklewish frowned. “But StarClan does want us to follow the rules,” she mewed.
“Well, if Bramblestar weren’t yowling about punishment all the time, the Clans could find a better way to deal with the codebreakers,” Stemleaf replied, annoyed.
Cloverfoot’s eyes narrowed. “What are you suggesting?”
Stemleaf lifted his chin. “Bramblestar is trying to make us act like Darktail’s Kin. He wants us to turn on one another. But warriors aren’t cruel. They never have been. Bramblestar must have bees in his brain. We have to get rid of him before he spoils the Clans forever.”
Rootpaw’s chest tightened. Was a ThunderClan cat really suggesting the Clans turn on his leader?
“If we try to get rid of Bramblestar, we’ll be breaking the code in the worst way possible,” Cloverfoot argued.
Frecklewish’s eyes widened. “What would StarClan think about that?”
Stemleaf stared at the SkyClan medicine cat. “We have to do something! StarClan can’t really want us to turn our backs on one another. If Bramblestar wants to banish cats, I say we should banish him!” He gazed around at the cats, and Rootpaw saw Sneezecloud, Slightfoot, and Breezepelt nod in agreement.
What would the ghost say if it were here? thought Rootpaw. It’d want me to tell them that the ThunderClan leader is an impostor. Rootpaw curled his claws into the ground. It would be so much simpler for these cats if they knew they were rebelling against an intruder and not a Clanmate. Tree was looking at him. He could read his father’s expression clearly. Tell them, it urged. Rootpaw tried to force himself to say the words, but he couldn’t. Shame washed his pelt. What if they thought he was crazy? What if they accused him of lying?
Cloverfoot shook her head. “How could we banish the leader of ThunderClan?” Her gaze flashed around the cats. “There aren’t enough of us.”
Sneezecloud nodded. “And we’re from different Clans. Even if we could each persuade our own Clans that what we’re doing is for the best, what could we do—invade ThunderClan’s camp?”
“We could end up causing a war,” Cloverfoot agreed.
“Not if enough cats agree that Bramblestar has to go,” Stemleaf argued.
Breezepelt snorted. “When was the last time the Clans agreed on anything without fighting about it first?”
The cats looked at one another, hesitating.
Tree raised his muzzle. “Is it really worth fighting about? Doesn’t it make more sense to leave the Clans if you don’t like them?” He looked around at the gathered cats.
Cloverfoot’s ears flattened. Finleap’s tail flicked dangerously as Tree went on.
“You could make your own Clan. Or be free to live how you like. I lived alone for a long time and it was great. Why let some crazy cat tell you what to do if you don’t agree with them?”
Rootpaw’s head drooped. Didn’t Tree realize what he was saying? Did he really understand so little about being a warrior? He nudged Tree, but his father hadn’t finished.
“I think we should show Bramblestar what we think of his codebreaking rules by leaving—”
Rootpaw stepped forward, cutting Tree off. “Leaving isn’t an option.” He looked pointedly at Tree. “If we can’t drive Bramblestar away by force, we have to find another way to deal with him.” His thoughts quickened. This was his chance to help the others see that something was wrong with the ThunderClan leader. “Haven’t you noticed how much he’s changed since he lost a life?” He looked questioningly at the cats, relieved to see some of them nodding. “Losing a life is scary, but is it supposed to change you completely?”
“It didn’t change Leafstar,” Blossomheart mewed.
Rootpaw’s pelt spiked. Had Leafstar lost a life? He’d thought she still had nine. Perhaps Blossomheart was mistaken.
Frecklewish flashed a warning look at Blossomheart, and the ginger-and-white she-cat quickly dropped her gaze.
Cloverfoot was frowning. “Tigerstar didn’t change when he lost a life. I don’t see why any cat would. Surely one life is the same as another, and Bramblestar still has eight left, which is more than most leaders.”
Finleap flicked his tail. “The old Bramblestar would never have acted like this.”
The old Bramblestar. Rootpaw blinked at the ThunderClan tom. Had he guessed that his leader was an impostor?
“I wish he’d pull himself together and be normal again,” Finleap went on.
Rootpaw’s heart sank. Finleap clearly had no idea. “Perhaps he can’t be normal again. Perhaps something happened while he was dead.” He blinked at the others, willing them to guess. He could feel Tree staring at him. He knew his father was urging him to speak, but he avoided catching his eye. Just tell them! The words were on his tongue, but he couldn’t bring himself to speak.
Spotfur stared at him, puzzled. “Do you think StarClan said something to him while he was dead?”
Tree padded forward. “Something happened while he was dead, but I don’t think it was anything to do with StarClan.” The other cats stared at him, ears pricking as Tree went on. “The cat that came back isn’t Bramblestar.”