Dovewing gazed at him wonderingly. “Why?”
“Your head told you to raise our kits among your Clan, remember?”
“But my heart told me to stay with you.” Her gaze clouded with love. “How could I leave, after all we’ve been through?” She glanced at the kits, who were weaving happily around them. “And how could I deprive our kits of such a wonderful father?” Purring, she thrust her muzzle against his.
Tigerstar closed his eyes and relished her warmth. Paws scuffed the grass around him. He pulled away and saw his Clanmates staring. There was uncertainty in their gazes.
Tawnypelt stepped forward. She flicked her tail toward Cinnamon, Ant, and Blaze. “You’ve brought back new warriors as well as old.”
Tigerstar tried to read her gaze. Was she angry with him?
Tawnypelt looked at Dovewing and the kits. “And it seems we’re getting ThunderClan cats too.”
He hesitated, conscious of the unease rippling through the pelts of his Clanmates. Then he remembered his leadership ceremony. Strength, courage, compassion, hope, forgiveness, persistence, acceptance, loyalty, and love. These were gifts he carried with him now. He lifted his chin and swung his gaze around the watching cats. Stonewing, Strikestone, and Juniperclaw eyed him warily. “I left you,” he meowed evenly. “But now I’ve returned. I bring with me cats who will make our Clan strong again. Accept them as I accept you. Give them your loyalty as I give you mine. I am ready to lead you.”
Silence gripped the hollow. Tigerstar held his breath as he watched his Clanmates.
“Tigerstar!” Juniperclaw’s mew was the first to ring through the night air. Snowbird’s rose to join it. Stonewing and Scorchfur blinked at Tigerstar, then lifted their muzzles to chant their new leader’s name. Within moments the hillside echoed to the call of every cat.
Tawnypelt’s muzzle brushed Tigerstar’s ear. “There is so much you have missed.” Her mew was filled with grief. “The days since you left have been dark. And there are darker days ahead.”
Tigerstar’s pelt prickled along his spine as he drew back and met her gaze. “Let them come.” He lifted his tail. “We will be ready to face them.”
READ ON FOR AN EXCLUSIVE MANGA ADVENTURE…
CREATED BY ERIN HUNTER
WRITTEN BY DAN JOLLEY
ART BY JAMES L. BARRY
