“I speak for StarClan!” Bramblestar showed his teeth.
Harestar padded to the edge of the branch. “Why won’t StarClan speak for themselves?”
Bramblestar rounded on him. “Because the codebreakers haven’t been punished yet!”
“Exile them!” Scorchfur called from among the ShadowClan cats.
“The codebreakers must atone!” Mallownose’s call was echoed by angry yowls from his Clanmates.
Around the clearing, warriors lifted their voices in agreement.
Rootpaw pressed back a shiver. He moved closer to Tree. “Why are so many cats agreeing with Bramblestar?” he breathed to his father.
“They’re frightened by StarClan’s silence,” Tree answered softly. “They’ll do anything to bring them back.”
Rootpaw scanned the crowd, relieved when he spotted Sneezecloud and Bristlefrost. Cloverfoot was standing beside the other deputies. Spotfur and Stemleaf watched quietly among their Clanmates. They knew that Bramblestar was an impostor. He glanced at Tree. “The other cats from the secret meeting are here. Do you think they’ll speak out?”
“Would you?” Tree eyed him grimly as the calls of the Clan cats rang around the clearing.
Rootpaw swallowed. We’re outnumbered.
Bramblestar gazed approvingly over the Clans. “I’m glad I’m no longer the only cat who sees that StarClan won’t return until the codebreakers have atoned.”
Mistystar’s eyes glittered nervously as she looked at Bramblestar. “It’s strange that you knew what StarClan wanted before Shadowsight shared their codebreaking message with the Clans.”
Bramblestar glared at her coldly. “I lost a life, remember? I was the last leader to commune with StarClan. It was clear to me then what they wanted. Shadowsight’s vision simply confirmed it for the rest of you.”
Shadowsight glanced nervously into the Great Oak. “I’m not sure my vision was from StarClan,” he mewed.
Rootpaw stiffened as Puddleshine shot Shadowsight a warning look. Was the older ShadowClan medicine cat trying to keep him quiet? But Shadowsight pressed on.
“I may have misunderstood the message.”
Bramblestar swished his tail. “Why would you doubt yourself? Your vision cured my fever.”
“My vision made you lose a life.” Shadowsight shifted his paws uneasily. “And StarClan hasn’t spoken since they told me the Clans would suffer. Why would they send me a vision that would turn Clanmates against one another and then not speak? They’re supposed to help us.”
Bramblestar leaned over the edge of the branch and stared at Shadowsight like a hunter eyeing prey. He flexed his claws, a threat in his gaze. Rootpaw edged forward, his breath catching in his throat. The ShadowClan medicine cat looked suddenly small. Was Bramblestar going to attack him?
Bramblestar’s fur smoothed. The menace faded from his eyes and he dipped his head. “You are young,” he mewed indulgently. “You were still an apprentice when your visions started. I’m not surprised you have trouble telling truth from imagination. But the visions you’ve shared with us have been clear. They spoke to you, named the codebreakers . . . and some of those codebreakers were cats you could never have known about.” His gaze drifted around at the gathered cats as he went on. “Would any cat deny that those named in his vision have broken the code?”
Tigerstar pricked his ears angrily. “Every cat has broken the code at some time, whether they meant to or not. What is important is a warrior’s heart. If a warrior is loyal and honorable, who cares if they made a mistake in the past?”
“StarClan does.” Bramblestar faced the ShadowClan leader. “Their message was very clear.”
“The message was clear.” Shadowsight padded farther forward, craning his neck to stare at Bramblestar. “But I don’t think it came from StarClan.”
“Nonsense!” Bramblestar’s pelt twitched. “Who else could it have come from?”
Berrynose gazed eagerly at his leader. “Only StarClan would care about the warrior code!”
“StarClan makes rules for a reason!” Mallownose yowled from among the RiverClan cats. “We must obey them.”
“The code has been broken!” Scorchfur glanced up from the ShadowClan warriors.
Rootpaw caught Bristlefrost’s eye. She looked at him helplessly as, once more, yowls of agreement rose from every Clan. Stemleaf and Spotfur moved closer together. Cloverfoot stared somberly at the gathered cats.
“The codebreakers must atone!” Harrybrook lashed his tail.
Sparrowpelt pricked his ears. “We must bring StarClan back,” he called. “They are silent for a reason.”
Rootpaw shrank from his Clanmates. Were SkyClan cats siding with Bramblestar? He glanced to the edge of the clearing, where the ghost watched in dismay, pressing his belly to the earth like a cornered rabbit. Rootpaw’s heart felt heavy with dread. The ghost must realize the danger. If warriors from every Clan believed atonement was the only way to bring StarClan back, to stand against them could mean war. Would the ghost want to get rid of the impostor if it meant Clanmate fighting Clanmate?
Scorchfur padded to the foot of the oak and looked up at Bramblestar. “Dovewing left ShadowClan to atone, but Tigerstar brought her back before she finished.” His gaze flicked accusingly to his leader. “Hasn’t ShadowClan suffered enough?” he asked Tigerstar.
Tigerstar puffed out his fur. “I couldn’t let Dovewing risk her safety.”
“Instead you risk the safety of the whole Clan!” Scorchfur held his gaze.
Bramblestar jerked his muzzle toward Tigerstar. “Is this true? Did you prevent a codebreaker from atoning?”
Tigerstar’s ears twitched. “I am leader of ShadowClan. I say what happens there.”
Bramblestar didn’t move. “Are you going against the laws of StarClan?”
“That is for StarClan to decide.” Tigerstar’s tail flicked ominously. “Not you.”
Bramblestar turned his gaze back to the gathered cats. “The only way to bring StarClan back is to stand together. Codebreakers must atone no matter what Clan they’re from.” He glanced scornfully at Dovewing. “Squirrelflight has atoned—why not Dovewing?” He didn’t wait for an answer. “Any leader who can’t enforce the law of StarClan has no right to be a leader.”
Around the clearing, warriors glanced at one another uneasily. Then Berrynose raised his muzzle. “StarClan won’t come back if the law isn’t enforced.”
“Leaders must lead!” Yarrowleaf yowled at Tigerstar.
“They owe it to their Clan!” Harrybrook mewed loudly.
As murmurs of agreement rippled through the crowd, Bramblestar swung his gaze back to Tigerstar. “If you can’t lead ShadowClan, perhaps Cloverfoot should take your place.”
Rootpaw’s pelt bristled as he looked at Cloverfoot. She knew Bramblestar was an impostor. Surely she wouldn’t agree to his demand! The ShadowClan deputy shifted nervously, then padded forward. “I stand by Tigerstar,” she meowed slowly. “I would never take his place. And I won’t let another Clan tell us what to do.” Her hackles lifted as she met Bramblestar’s gaze.
Bramblestar snorted and looked back to the crowd. “ShadowClan’s warriors shouldn’t suffer while their codebreakers go unpunished.” His gaze fixed on Scorchfur. “If neither ShadowClan’s leader nor its deputy is ready to follow StarClan’s laws, perhaps we should find them new leadership.”
Scorchfur’s ears twitched nervously. He backed away into the crowd, but around him a soft murmuring echoed Bramblestar’s suggestion.
“We need leaders who will make StarClan come back.” Emberfoot’s mew sounded from the WindClan cats.
Panic began to spark in Rootpaw’s chest. This wasn’t how the Gathering was meant to go. Bramblestar was supposed to be revealed as an impostor so the Clans could unite against him. Instead the Clans seemed to be supporting him more than ever. To call him an impostor now might start a battle. Rootpaw blinked at Bristlefrost desperately. She returned his gaze, her eyes round with alarm. He turned to Frecklewish. Perhaps a medicine cat could speak out. But she only stared grimly ahead as though trying to hide what she felt. Was no cat going to speak? Even the ghost seemed to have given up. It still crouched in the shadows, its translucent pelt so pale that it seemed hardly more than a dab of moonlight. I have to do something! Pelt bristling, Rootpaw lifted his chin. “Would our ancestors approve of one Clan turning on another?”