Tigerheart’s chest tightened. Tell him.
Puddleshine glanced apologetically at Rowanstar. “We are being warned that ShadowClan may disappear.”
Tell him that he’s the sun! Perhaps Puddleshine didn’t realize what the vision meant. Or perhaps he believed that warning Rowanstar he was weak might weaken him further. Tigerheart tried to read Puddleshine’s gaze, but he saw only worry.
“What should we do?” Rowanstar flicked his tail.
Tigerheart looked his father in the eye. “We must stay strong,” he meowed. “As strong as the sun.”
Rowanstar just looked at him. Tigerheart stared back, waiting for the ginger tom’s eyes to light up with understanding.
But Rowanstar looked as confused as the other cats. Tigerheart wondered if maybe he should say something to his father…
But won’t that make him look weak, if he needs his deputy to explain a vision to him?
He turned away, feeling sick. Tomorrow, Dovewing was expecting him to leave the forest with her. But how could he abandon his Clan now, when they needed him most? Rowanstar clearly needed support. If Tigerheart left now, then the shadows would fade. ShadowClan would disappear.
But Dovewing was willing to make her journey alone if she had to. He had to stop her. Once he’d made sure that Rowanstar and ShadowClan were strong again, then they could journey wherever she wanted to go.
He ran across the clearing, anxiety fizzing in his pelt. He headed for the entrance and ducked through the bramble tunnel. The damp leaf-fall air seeped into his fur as he headed for the ThunderClan border. He felt cold. The ground felt chilly beneath his paws. He had to talk to someone. He had to save his Clan. He had to save Dovewing.
As he neared the border and ThunderClan scents began to drift between the trees, he slowed. The fear that gripped him spiraled into panic. What am I doing? He couldn’t reveal their secret about the kits! If Dovewing’s Clan rejected her, she’d never forgive him. She had a plan. He couldn’t ruin it by betraying her.
He stopped. But what if Dovewing told a Clanmate about the kits herself? What if she felt close enough to another cat to confide her fears?
Ivypool! Of course! The sisters had been close until recently. Dovewing had complained that her sister hardly spoke to her now. She must miss having Ivypool to confide in. If I can mend their relationship, Dovewing might tell Ivypool everything. Tigerheart lifted his head eagerly. And then Ivypool could persuade her to stay.
Tigerheart snatched desperately at the hope. He broke into a run. He had to find Ivypool and speak to her!
Tigerheart crouched beside the ThunderClan border until sunset. When there was still no sign of Ivypool, he crossed it. Slinking through the shadows, his mouth open to taste for scents, he crept across ThunderClan land. What if she was patrolling the far side? Could he wait outside the camp until he saw her return and catch her attention?
Anxiety fluttered in his belly. He shouldn’t be on ThunderClan territory. But he had to see Ivypool.
Suddenly her scent touched his nose. It was fresh. His heart soared. StarClan must be guiding us! He scanned the shadowy forest. Twilight was sinking fast into night. He widened his eyes, trying to glimpse her pelt, and heard paws scuff the ground beyond a stand of bracken. He caught a scent that tasted like Dovewing’s—a little harsher, but familiar. Taking a risk, he whispered into the shadows. “Ivypool.”
He heard a sudden movement. Some cat had turned quickly. Fur brushed the bracken stems. They trembled in front of him as Ivypool pushed her way out.
“Tigerheart?” Hostility gleamed in her gaze. “What are you doing here?”
“I have to talk to you.”
“To me?” She curled her lip. “Are you sure you’re not looking for Dovewing?”
“I’m sure.”
Ivypool growled at him. “Twigpaw saw you and my sister meeting near the border. You know that’s against the warrior code, right? You could get her into big trouble.”
Tigerheart stared into her burning gaze. Urgency writhed like captured prey in his chest. “I love her, Ivypool, and she loves me. But she needs you.”
Ivypool narrowed her eyes. “Is that why you’re here? To tell me that you’re in love, so everything’s okay?” Her mew dripped with contempt.
“She says you’re shutting her out,” Tigerheart urged. “I know you’re angry with her. But she needs someone to confide in.”
“You mean she needs me to approve of what she’s doing so she doesn’t feel so guilty!” Anger sharpened Ivypool’s mew.
“Don’t you care about her?” Tigerheart pleaded.
Ivypool’s pelt bushed. “How dare you?” she spat. “Of course I care about her. And if you cared about her, you’d leave her alone.”
“I can’t.” Helplessness swamped Tigerheart. He wanted to blurt out the truth—that Dovewing was expecting kits. He wanted the truth to fix everything. He wanted Ivypool to forgive Dovewing and reassure her that raising her kits in the Clans would be great. But he knew the truth might make things worse. And telling the truth should be Dovewing’s choice, not his.
“Ivypool.” He gazed at her desperately. “Just talk to her. Please.”
“I will.” Ivypool whirled away with a snarl. “Once she’s stopped seeing you.” Her silver tail lashing, she pushed her way through the bracken and disappeared into darkness.
Tigerheart watched her go, his chest tightening with panic. Ivypool had been his last, desperate hope at persuading Dovewing, and now that hope had died. Dovewing only had him. I don’t want to do this without you, Tigerheart. I need you. He pictured her wide, stricken gaze, and his heart ached.
He curled his claws into the earth. Rowanstar was ShadowClan’s leader; he was responsible for the Clan. It’s not my duty to hold the Clan together. Tigerheart headed for the border. I’ve carried that burden for too long. He pictured Scorchfur’s snarling face as he attacked Tawnypelt. He remembered the treachery of the apprentices who’d brought the rogues into the Clan. Let them hold themselves together. Bitterness rose in his throat. Or tear themselves apart. Determination pulsed through him as he padded through the deepening night. My responsibility is to Dovewing and my kits.
I love you, Dovewing, and I won’t let you down.
Chapter 4
Tigerheart could taste rain on the wind. Thick clouds darkened the sky above the pines, casting the forest into gloom. Not good traveling weather. His chest tightened as he thought about meeting Dovewing. Sunhigh had passed long ago. He must leave soon. She’d be waiting.
He reached up and tucked a stray tendril into the bramble wall of the ShadowClan nursery. Rowanstar had given orders that all the dens be repaired and strengthened. Rain was coming, and he wanted the Clan to be warm and dry in their nests. Grassheart and Strikestone were working on the warriors’ den. Flowerpaw, Snakepaw, and Whorlpaw poked wads of moss into the holes in side of their own den, while Tawnypelt and Snowbird wove extra brambles into the walls of the elders’ den.
Tigerheart’s throat tightened. Could he really leave? This was the only life he’d known. Sadness jabbed at his heart. He might never see these cats again. He’d be leaving the forest to live in a Twolegplace! His pelt prickled nervously.