The Silent Thaw

Chapter 16

Rootpaw peered from the den entrance and tasted the damp night air. Musty forest scents bathed his tongue. The dark clearing was deserted. He pricked his ears and heard only the call of an owl far away in the forest. Anxiety fluttered in his belly as he glanced at the moon. It was already high in the raven-black sky. His Clanmates had taken ages to settle into their dens and go to sleep. I’m going to be late for the meeting!

Bracken rustled behind him, and he jerked his muzzle around, alarm sparking in his pelt. Had one of his denmates woken? In the shadows, he saw Wrenpaw curl tighter in her nest and settle deeper into the moss. Needlepaw was still snoring softly beside her.

Holding his breath, Rootpaw slipped outside, skirting the clearing as he made for the entrance. He quickened his step. Once he was out in the forest, he would only have to worry about being seen by foxes and badgers. For once, he wished that Bramblestar’s ghost were with him. He didn’t like being alone in the woods at night, and another pair of eyes would be useful. But the ghost had disappeared last night and Rootpaw hadn’t seen it since. Perhaps it had gone to keep an eye on Squirrelflight. She’d looked pretty scared when she’d found out her mate was an impostor.

“Rootpaw?” A whisper from the shadows made him freeze. Fur spiking, he glanced around, his heart sinking as he recognized his father’s yellow pelt glowing in the moonlight.

Tree padded from the darkness beside the camp wall. “You’re up late.”

“So are you.” Irritation hardened Rootpaw’s belly. Why couldn’t his father be asleep in his nest like the rest of the Clan? “What are you doing here?”

“I like to watch the stars when every cat is sleeping.” Tree glanced at the sky. “It’s nice to have some time to myself.” He glanced back at Rootpaw. “Why aren’t you asleep?”

Rootpaw shifted his paws self-consciously. “I was on my way to the dirtplace.”

Tree looked unconvinced. “Why not use the dirtplace tunnel?” He nodded across the clearing.

“I . . . wanted to stretch my legs.” Rootpaw blinked, his thoughts whirling. How could he get rid of Tree? The meeting would be starting soon.

Tree’s eyes rounded. “I thought Leafstar told you not to leave camp without permission after your trip to ThunderClan.”

Rootpaw flicked his tail crossly. Tree wasn’t going to make this easy. “There’s somewhere I have to be,” he snapped.

“Where?” Tree tipped his head to one side.

“A meeting, okay?” Why couldn’t Tree just let him go?

“Does this have something to do with the ghost?” Tree leaned closer, concern darkening his eyes.

“No,” Rootpaw told him. “I haven’t seen it all day.”

“Are you meeting Bristlefrost?” Tree blinked at him.

“No!” Rootpaw stuck out his chin. “Spotfur and Stemleaf invited me to a meeting of cats who are worried about what’s going on in the Clans.”

Tree pricked his ears. “Other cats are worried too?” He sounded relieved.

“Of course they are.” Rootpaw’s shoulders drooped. He was going to have to tell Tree everything. “Stemleaf and Spotfur invited me when we were leaving the Gathering. They’re going to see if there’s something they can do to stop what’s happening.”

Tree whisked his tail. “Then I’d better come with you.”

“No!” Rootpaw stared at him, dismayed. What would the other cats think if he turned up with his father?

“Why not?” Tree looked surprised. “You know I’ve been worried about the direction the Clans are heading. If other cats are meeting to discuss it, I want to be there.”

Rootpaw realized it would be pointless to object. Tree was never going to let him sneak out if he didn’t get to come too. “Okay,” he muttered. “But we have to hurry. The meeting starts at moonhigh.”

Tree glanced at the sky. “Come on, then.”

Rootpaw padded after his father as Tree hurried out of camp. He fluffed out his fur. At least I have that other pair of eyes now. As the forest stretched away into darkness on every side, he forced back a shiver. The journey suddenly felt dangerous. He was going to meet cats from other Clans in secret. Glancing into the shadows, he felt suddenly comforted by Tree’s presence.

They moved softly through the woods. Tree led the way, his ears pricked and his whiskers twitching as they followed the trail to the edge of ShadowClan land and cut across the forest to the greenleaf Twolegplace.

“Are you going to tell them about the ghost?” Tree asked as they crouched at the edge of the forest and gazed across the silent meadow.

“No.” Rootpaw scanned the slope, looking for pelts in the moonlight. There was no sign of movement and he tasted the air. The breeze carried faint ThunderClan scents. He realized his father was staring at him.

“You’re not telling?” Tree looked surprised. “Why not?”

“I’m not admitting to a bunch of warriors from other Clans that I can see dead cats,” Rootpaw told him. “You might think it’s normal, but I don’t.”

“But it’s important.”

“I’ll find another way to make them see that Bramblestar isn’t who he says he is. But I don’t want to tell them I’ve been talking to his ghost. I want them to take me seriously.” Rootpaw narrowed his eyes. A shadow was moving through the long grass at the edge of the meadow.

Tree frowned. “Why do you think they won’t take you seriously if you tell them you can see ghosts?”

“They might think I’m like you.” Guilt seared his pelt as he blurted out the words. That was cruel. He glanced at his father. I’m sorry. Before he could apologize out loud, the shadow darted across the slope. His ears pricked. It was a cat. He pointed his muzzle toward it. “Do you see that?” he asked Tree.

Tree’s ears were twitching. “See what?”

“Over there,” Rootpaw nodded toward the cat, whose mottled fur was barely more than a ripple on the grass.

Tree stiffened. “It’s Frecklewish!”

Rootpaw blinked. His father was right. The SkyClan medicine cat was creeping around the edge of the meadow.

Tree raced forward. “Frecklewish!”

The medicine cat froze.

“It’s me, Tree!”

Rootpaw hurried after his father. Didn’t he realize this meeting was supposed to be secret?

Frecklewish arched her back, her pelt spiking as Tree raced toward her.

“Don’t worry.” Tree skidded to a halt beside her, panting. “It’s just us. What are you doing here?”

“What are you doing here?” Frecklewish eyed Tree suspiciously as Rootpaw caught up.

“Stemleaf and Spotfur invited us to a meeting,” Tree told her.

Rootpaw glanced sharply at his father. “They invited me,” he muttered. “Tree invited himself.”

“Is that where you’re going?” Tree pressed, staring at Frecklewish.

“Yes.” Frecklewish lifted her chin. “Stemleaf and Spotfur thought I looked upset after the last Gathering. They told me about the meeting, too.”

Rootpaw shifted his paws. “Are you worried about the codebreakers?”

“I’m worried about how they’re being treated. StarClan’s never wanted to punish us before.” Frecklewish glanced across the meadow to where bushes clustered around a dip in the slope. She nodded toward it. “I think the other cats are over there.”

“Come on.” Tree hurried away, his tail flicking eagerly.

As Rootpaw followed, Frecklewish fell in beside him.

“I don’t like going behind Leafstar’s back,” she whispered. “But I want to hear what these cats have to say.”

“Me too.” Rootpaw was relieved to see a medicine cat there. It made going to the meeting feel less disloyal.

He followed Frecklewish as she slid between the bushes. His nose twitched as cat scents filled it, so many he couldn’t tell them apart. Fur prickling, he pushed his way between the branches, surprised as a small hollow opened before him. He paused, his heart lurching as he saw pelts moving in the moonlight. So many cats! Finleap and Twigbranch were there with Stemleaf and Spotfur. Cloverfoot, Whorlpelt, and Blazefire had come from ShadowClan. Blossomheart! She must have slipped out of camp before him. Breezepelt hung back in the shadows with Smokehaze and Slightfoot, and Dappletuft and Sneezecloud pressed together, their pelts damp where they must have crossed the river.

Tree was already greeting Stemleaf, dipping his head to the ThunderClan tom before he eased into a space between Twigbranch and Blazefire. He beckoned Rootpaw to join him with a flick of his tail.

As Rootpaw crossed the hollow, Stemleaf blinked at him. “I’m glad you came,” he mewed.

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.”

“What do you mean?” Stemleaf looked puzzled.

“It can’t be Bramblestar,” Tree told him. “Because I’ve seen Bramblestar’s ghost in the forest. I’ve spoken to it.”

Stemleaf’s eyes widened. “You saw his ghost?”

“You spoke to it?” Spotfur stared at Tree in disbelief.

Gratitude flooded beneath Rootpaw’s fur. The truth was out. And he didn’t have to admit to seeing dead cats. They’d have to do something now, wouldn’t they?

Frecklewish frowned. “But Bramblestar is alive. He can’t be a ghost.”

“The Bramblestar who came back isn’t the real Bramblestar,” Tree told him. “Some cat is using his body to harm the Clans. The real Bramblestar is a ghost. He can see what’s going on, but he can’t contact StarClan. I’m the only cat he can talk to.”

Frecklewish’s pelt was bristling as she stared at Tree. “Do you mean that the leader of ThunderClan is an impostor?”

Tree nodded.

Rootpaw saw the cats exchange glances. Their eyes were wide with confusion.

“A cat stole another cat’s body. . . .” Whorlpelt stared, open-mouthed, as his mew trailed away, clearly struggling to believe what he was saying.

Breezepelt’s ear twitched. “How can that be? Surely no cat could steal a body?”

Tree shrugged. “All I know is that Bramblestar’s ghost is trapped in the forest and his body is being used by some other cat.”

“It’s too crazy to believe,” Cloverfoot breathed.

Rootpaw leaned forward eagerly. You have to believe him!

As the cats eyed one another doubtfully, Tree whisked his tail. “If you don’t want to believe me, then don’t. But how would you explain the way Bramblestar has changed?”

Stemleaf and Spotfur exchanged glances. Breezepelt frowned. Rootpaw felt queasy. Were they going to reject Tree’s claim?

Twigbranch padded forward. “The Bramblestar who’s leading the Clan is not the Bramblestar any of us grew up with.” Her eyes glittered anxiously. “Since he made his new rule that he and Squirrelflight can take prey from the fresh-kill pile before the elders and queens, he’s become even more strict.”

Breezepelt blinked in surprise. “Did Squirrelflight agree with this rule?”

Twigbranch shifted, uncomfortable. “She didn’t seem happy,” she murmured.

Breezepelt’s hackles lifted. “How could any warrior take prey before elders and queens?”

“What a fox-heart!” Cloverfoot hissed.

Frecklewish’s eyes flashed. “I think we need to speak to Shadowsight.”

“Why Shadowsight?” Stemleaf looked at her.

“He’s the one who told ThunderClan to take Bramblestar to the moor when he was sick,” Frecklewish explained. “He was there when Bramblestar got his second life. Didn’t he say that StarClan had told him what to do?”

“Do you think Shadowsight’s behind this?” Cloverfoot looked scared.

Rootpaw searched Frecklewish’s gaze. Was Shadowsight helping the impostor? He leaned forward as the SkyClan medicine cat’s eyes darkened.

“He’s very young,” she mewed thoughtfully. “I was surprised that StarClan put so much trust in him. But if he is involved, I don’t think he realizes what he’s doing. It’s strange that he’s the only medicine cat StarClan has shared with all leaf-bare. There might be more to their messages than he thinks.” She looked at Cloverfoot. “Can you ask him about his vision?”

Cloverfoot shifted her paws uneasily. “He’s Tigerstar’s son. How would it look if the ShadowClan deputy questioned him? ShadowClan is still fragile after Darktail. I don’t want to cause doubt. Besides, it might scare him into trying to cover his tracks.”

“So you think he has been up to something?” Stemleaf flicked his tail.

“I don’t think Shadowsight is capable of doing anything dishonest, but he might have made a mistake,” Cloverfoot mewed.

“I’ll speak to him.” Frecklewish lifted her chin. “I’m a medicine cat. I can ask him about his visions without it seeming strange. There might be something he’s missing.”

“I’ll help you.” Rootpaw blinked at the SkyClan medicine cat. “We’re kind of friends. He might open up if I’m there.”

“Okay.” Stemleaf lifted his tail. “We’ll find out more about Shadowsight’s visions before we decide what to do next.” As the other cats nodded, Stemleaf headed for the bushes. “We’d better get back to our Clans before any cat notices we’re missing.”

Rootpaw felt relieved. Other cats, besides him and Tree, knew about the impostor. It isn’t just my problem anymore. He blinked gratefully at Tree as they crossed the hollow. If they left now, they’d be home long before their Clanmates woke.

Rootpaw stiffened, his heart lurching. The branches rustled on the far side of the hollow. A shape was slinking from the shadows. Had the meeting been discovered? His breath caught in his throat as he recognized the pale gray fur. Bristlefrost! What was she doing here?

“Run!” Twigbranch’s pelt spiked with panic. “It’s Bramblestar’s spy! Get out of here. She’ll report us!”

Rootpaw froze as the others scrambled for the bushes. He stared at Bristlefrost. Bramblestar’s spy? His throat tightened. Was she helping the impostor?