His voice sounded no more than a whisper, but the crowd seemed to grow still around him.
“What was that?” Jayfeather turned toward Rootpaw. “Speak up, apprentice! Don’t make me think I’m deaf as well as blind.”
As the gazes of the Clans turned toward him, Rootpaw’s pelt burned. He forced himself to speak. He looked at the ghost. I’m saying this for you! “Even when the spirits of dead cats can’t speak to those they love . . .” He willed the ghost to get to its paws. “They can still see us.” If Bramblestar’s spirit was defeated, what hope was there for the cats who wanted to stand up to the impostor? “They surround us all the time. How would they feel if they saw us turn on one another in their name?”
He felt Bramblestar’s gaze sear his pelt and met it, sticking out his chest. He searched it, wondering who was behind those burning eyes. If it wasn’t the real Bramblestar staring at him, who was it?
“You’re Tree’s kit, aren’t you?” Bramblestar’s snarl was as sharp as a fox’s.
Rootpaw forced himself not to flinch. “Yes, I am.”
“Your father thinks the forest is full of dead cats, but a true warrior knows that dead cats go to StarClan. No spirits surround us.” Suspicion flared in his gaze. “Why are you arguing against enforcing the warrior code? Are you a codebreaker too?”
Rootpaw felt Tree stiffen beside him. “My kit is no codebreaker,” he snapped. “A dead cat can walk where it likes. Just because you’re a Clan leader doesn’t give you the power to decide where they put their paws. I saw my father in the forest after he died, and my mate’s mother returned to speak to her kits.” He glanced across the heads of his Clanmates to where Twigbranch stood. “Isn’t that right?”
She met his gaze uneasily but nodded. “It’s true.”
Violetshine moved closer to Tree. “I saw her too, and I saw Needletail after she died. She’s the one who led me to Tree in the first place.”
Murmurs of agreement rippled through the gathered cats.
“Plenty of us saw cats from StarClan and the Dark Forest fight at our sides.” Crowfeather stared at the crowd, as though challenging them to deny it. “Surely you remember the Great Battle?” His Clanmates began to nod, and among the other Clans, warriors dipped their heads in agreement.
Bramblestar flicked his tail impatiently. “Let’s not waste time reminiscing!” he growled. “So some of you have seen dead cats. It doesn’t change anything. Rootpaw is just trying to stir up trouble. We know what our ancestors want. They want the codebreakers to atone.”
Tree flattened his ears. “I thought it was you who wanted the codebreakers to atone,” he mewed acidly.
Rootpaw glanced at his father, panic sparking in his fur. Hush! It was dangerous to provoke the ThunderClan leader any more. What if Tree got himself exiled? His father had already been talking about leaving the Clans. Would he ever come back?
Fury flashed in Bramblestar’s eyes. “I speak for StarClan! It’s our ancestors who want the codebreakers punished. And the fact that you’re trying to stop me shows you’re a codebreaker.” He thrust his muzzle forward. “You should atone!”
Violetshine’s eyes flashed with alarm. As she laid her tail protectively across Tree’s spine, Squirrelflight slid from the shadow beneath the Great Oak and looked up at Bramblestar.
“This is a SkyClan affair,” she meowed evenly.
Tigerstar’s ears pricked. “Like that ever matters to Bramblestar,” he growled. He’s always telling other Clans what to do.”
Bramblestar bristled. “I’m doing this for the good of all the Clans! And if the other leaders won’t do what is necessary, it’s up to me to make sure StarClan’s laws are enforced!” He swung his gaze back to Tree. “You’ve been questioning our ways for too long. It’s time you proved you’re one of us, rather than a loner who lives off our prey.”
Leafstar lashed her tail angrily. “I discipline SkyClan warriors, not you!” She glared at Bramblestar.
Harrybrook looked at his leader questioningly. “But Bramblestar is right. Tree still prefers hunting for his own prey, even now. He never takes from the fresh-kill pile.”
“He adds to it!” Violetshine snapped indignantly.
Berrynose called from among the ThunderClan cats. “We’ve all heard him question our traditions.”
Rootpaw’s heart began to pound as murmurs of agreement spread among the Clans. Surely the cats who’d been at the secret meeting would stand up for Tree. He was one of them! He looked hopefully at Bristlefrost. When she dropped her gaze, he looked at Stemleaf and then Spotfur. Stemleaf and Spotfur exchanged glances, then looked away. They weren’t going to defend him! Rootpaw shifted his paws uncomfortably. Was it because Tree had suggested that any cat who didn’t agree with Bramblestar should leave the Clans? Why did his father have to be so independent? Would he ever understand that loyalty was a warrior’s first duty?
Bramblestar looked on with satisfaction as the murmurs spread. Then he fixed his gaze on Tree. “You must atone to show StarClan that you accept the warrior code.”
“Atone!” Berrynose pushed his way through the ThunderClan cats and stared at Tree.
Harrybrook turned on his Clanmate. “Atone!”
“Atone!”
Violetshine pressed herself to her mate. “Leave him alone! He’s done nothing to harm any cat.”
“Are you a codebreaker too?” Bramblestar glared at her.
Tree nosed her away. “Violetshine’s broken no code.”
Rootpaw wanted to move closer to his father as the cry rose from the Clans, but fear rooted his paws to the earth. He didn’t want to be named a codebreaker too. He couldn’t risk being exiled. Who would protect Violetshine and Needlepaw? How could he protect his Clan, or help the ghost? He pressed against his mother and blinked apologetically at Tree. I’m sorry!
Tree gazed back at him gently, as though he understood.
Bramblestar lifted his voice above the yowls. “Tree must go into exile for three days to atone.”
Leafstar’s hackles lifted. “No ThunderClan cat tells my warriors what to do!”
Violetshine’s pelt was bristling with fear, but Tree gazed calmly at Bramblestar. “I’ll spend three days in exile.” He shrugged. “It won’t be hard. I was a loner for many moons. I might even enjoy the solitude, especially if it puts this matter to rest once and for all.”
Bramblestar narrowed his eyes. “Atonement should allow you to think about your mistakes,” he told Tree. “Perhaps you’ll find more reflection in spending the time visiting each Clan and persuading their leaders to accept StarClan’s laws.”
“We already accept them!” Leafstar snapped.
“Not enough to enforce the warrior code and make your warriors atone.” Bramblestar turned his icy gaze on the SkyClan leader. “It seems that our warriors understand that atonement is the only way to bring StarClan back, but their leaders are dragging their paws. They clearly think they’re above StarClan. They don’t want to make their Clanmates atone.” His mew grew silky as he scanned the leaders beside him on the branch. “But Tree is supposed to be persuasive. You call him your mediator. Perhaps he can convince each of you that it’s in your Clan’s best interest to send your codebreakers into exile until they have earned StarClan’s forgiveness.”