The Silent Thaw

Chapter 22

Rootpaw frowned. Why would Squirrelflight come to Tigerstar for sanctuary?

The ShadowClan cats looked puzzled too. Flowerstem and Whorlpelt got slowly to their paws. Scorchfur exchanged glances with Snaketooth as Puddleshine slid from his den, his tail twitching nervously.

Tigerstar was staring at Squirrelflight, as though lost for words. “Sanctuary?” he echoed.

As Dovewing hurried to his side, Tawnypelt padded into camp, a mouse dangling from her jaws. The tortoiseshell stopped as she saw Squirrelflight, her gaze widening. “What’s she doing here?”

Squirrelflight didn’t take her gaze from Tigerstar. “Bramblestar has sent me away. He accused me of being a traitor.”

“He’s got bees in his brain!” Outrage sparked in Tigerstar’s gaze. “You’re Firestar’s daughter. You’ve been loyal to ThunderClan your whole life. When I was young, I heard many tales of your courage during the Great Battle. What is Bramblestar thinking?”

“He’s right,” Squirrelflight mewed simply. “I told my Clan I was leaving to atone, but instead I went to SkyClan to tell them that he’s not the cat I’ve known all my life. The real Bramblestar would never act this way. This fox-heart is punishing his Clanmates as though they’re his enemies. They’re scared of him.” She shook her head. “No, this isn’t Bramblestar.”

Tigerstar’s ears flattened. “I don’t understand.”

She glanced meaningfully at Rootpaw as though they shared a secret. “The real Bramblestar has been driven out, and something else has taken over.” Her gaze darkened. “Something evil.”

Tree padded forward. “She’s right. That’s what we came to tell you.”

Tigerstar’s gaze swung toward the yellow tom. “I thought I told you to leave!”

Rootpaw moved closer to his father. “You have to listen to us.”

Shadowsight nodded. “Hear them out.”

Tigerstar lashed his tail. “Do you expect me to listen to them spouting Bramblestar’s nonsense about codebreakers when his deputy stands in front of me asking for sanctuary?”

“We haven’t come to spout Bramblestar’s nonsense,” Rootpaw mewed desperately.

As Tigerstar’s hackles lifted, Shadowsight stepped in front of Rootpaw. “They know why Bramblestar’s acting like this.” He glanced at Squirrelflight. “It’s exactly like Squirrelflight just said. You have to listen to them.”

Tigerstar padded closer, his gaze flitting from Squirrelflight to Tree. “Go ahead, then. Say what you have to say. I’m listening.” He stopped in front of Tree.

“She’s right about Bramblestar,” Tree told him. “He’s not really Bramblestar. He’s an impostor who has stolen Bramblestar’s body.” Shocked whispers rippled around the Clan, but Tree pressed on. “I’ve seen Bramblestar’s ghost. It’s trapped in the forest. It can’t return to its body, and it can’t find StarClan.”

Tigerstar blinked. “How can that be?”

Shadowsight lifted his muzzle. “When Bramblestar lost a life, the impostor took his place.”

“How?” Tigerstar turned on his son.

Shadowsight’s ears twitched. “I don’t know.” He sounded desperate. “The voice that told me that Bramblestar could only be cured on the moor wanted me to take him there. I think they wanted him to die so they could steal his body.”

Rootpaw blinked at the ShadowClan medicine cat. Of course. Whichever cat had stolen Bramblestar’s body had planned it from the start. Shadowsight’s tail drooped. He looked defeated. Was he thinking this was all his fault?

Scorchfur padded forward, his pelt prickling. “I thought StarClan told you to take Bramblestar to the moor.”

Shadowsight stared at the dark gray tom in exasperation. “I thought so too. But didn’t you hear me at the Gathering? I told you! I told every cat. It was never StarClan talking to me at all.”

Rootpaw’s heart ached with sympathy as Shadowsight stared helplessly at his Clanmate. He knew what it was like to know something no other cat would believe.

Puddleshine padded into the clearing. “Shadowsight told me when he realized that the visions weren’t from StarClan, but I asked him to keep it to himself. I was scared the other Clans would turn on us if they knew.”

“I’m sorry,” Shadowsight mewed. “I thought I was helping the Clans, but I was just being used by some cat who wants to hurt us.”

Flowerstem’s ears twitched nervously. “Then where is StarClan?”

Shadowsight shrugged. “They’re not talking to us. That’s all I know.”

Whorlpelt whisked his tail. “But maybe Bramblestar—or whichever cat it is—is right. Won’t punishing the codebreakers bring them back?”

“Don’t you understand?” Tree snapped. “StarClan doesn’t care about these codebreakers. The impostor is the only one who wants them punished.”

A growl rumbled in Squirrelflight’s throat. “I think he likes to watch cats suffer.”

Scorchfur bristled as he stared at Shadowsight. “Why did you listen to this voice? You should have known better. You’re supposed to be a medicine cat. We trusted you!”

Shadowsight seemed to shrink beneath his pelt.

Rootpaw stepped in front of him and curled his tail protectively over Shadowsight’s spine. “He was doing his best.”

Tigerstar lifted his muzzle. “What’s done is done,” he mewed firmly. “We can’t change it now. ShadowClan warriors have always done their best to protect their Clanmates, and that won’t ever change. Turning on one another is not the answer.”

Flowerstem padded tentatively forward. “How do we know all this is true?” She glanced skeptically at Squirrelflight. “These cats might be trying to stir up trouble because they disagree with Bramblestar.”

Tigerstar narrowed his eyes. “But we know Bramblestar isn’t behaving like himself.”

Scorchfur huffed. “ThunderClan has always been bossy.”

Dovewing frowned. “Never this bossy.”

“I can show you Bramblestar’s ghost if you like.” Tree gazed around the gathered cats.

Tawnypelt’s eyes widened. “I forgot you could do that.”

Rootpaw glanced nervously at his father. He was still tired after summoning the ghost for Shadowsight. He wasn’t even sure how he’d managed it. Tree had told him to picture the ghost as hard as he could, and call out to him with his mind, focusing his thoughts onto a single patch of ground. Could he do it again so soon, especially knowing a whole Clan was watching? A whole Clan that would now know that Rootpaw was as strange as his father, if they realized who was actually summoning the spirit?

I have to, he told himself. This is too important.

He nudged Tree’s shoulder with his nose. “What if I can’t make it appear this time?” he whispered softly.

Tree nosed Rootpaw away and lowered his voice. “You’ll be fine,” he breathed. “Just do what I told you. . . .”

“What if I’m not strong enough?” Rootpaw glanced back at the watching ShadowClan cats.

“You’re stronger than you think,” Tree told him. “And it’ll be easier this time. He’s your ghost, and he wants to come. You just have to open the way.”

Rootpaw swallowed. “Okay. I’ll try.”

Tree slid in front of Rootpaw and faced the expectant warriors. Rootpaw closed his eyes. He pictured Bramblestar’s ghost, imagining its watery outline, its tabby pelt, the wide forehead and muscled shoulders. He visualized it shimmering into view and felt himself shudder with the effort. His paws shook. Energy fizzed in his fur. This was how it had felt last time. It must be working. He half opened his eyes to look.

Tree was trembling slightly as he pretended to summon the apparition. But it was already there, standing in the clearing. Triumph pulsed beneath Rootpaw’s pelt as the ShadowClan cats stared at the ghost, fur spiking with alarm. I did it again!

It stiffened as it seemed to realize every eye in the ShadowClan camp was on it. “Can you see me?”

Tigerstar nodded slowly as though wondering if he were dreaming.

“Some cat has stolen my body,” the ghost mewed quickly.

Squirrelflight darted toward it, desperation in her gaze. “Bramblestar!” Her muzzle passed through the ghost’s, which was no more solid than air, and she backed away, trembling.

The ghost glanced at her apologetically, then stared at the ShadowClan cats. “Don’t listen to the impostor. It’s not me!” It glanced at Shadowsight. “Don’t blame Shadowsight—he was tricked. Whatever took my body will do anything to get what it wants.”

Rootpaw’s heart began to pound and his paws felt as heavy as stone. He staggered, every hair in his pelt suddenly drained of energy, but he fought to keep the ghost there.

“You’re doing it!” Tree whispered beside Rootpaw.

His father’s mew broke Rootpaw’s concentration. The ghost flickered into thin air and the ShadowClan cats blinked with surprise, as though waking from a dream.

Rootpaw struggled to stay on his paws. He felt more tired than he’d ever felt in his life. But he didn’t want the others to know he’d made the ghost appear. As he wobbled like a newborn kit, his father dropped beside him, pretending to be exhausted. Rootpaw felt a rush of relief as the gathered cats’ attention flashed toward the yellow tom, their eyes glittering with shock.

“Was that really Bramblestar?” Flowerstem gasped.

“Yes!” Tawnypelt’s ears twitched excitedly.

“It must be a trick,” Scorchfur growled. “Bramblestar’s still alive.”

“We told you—the living Bramblestar isn’t the real Bramblestar!” Squirrelflight snapped.

Rootpaw glanced past them. He could still see the ghost. It was standing in the clearing, watching the ShadowClan cats.

It padded to Rootpaw’s side. “They know everything I know,” it murmured. “They have to fight now.”

Tigerstar’s tail flicked ominously. “Who is this impostor?”

Tree struggled to his paws. “We don’t know yet.”

Puddleshine looked puzzled. “Is it a rogue?”

Squirrelflight frowned. “How could a rogue know about StarClan?” she murmured. “This cat must have been a warrior once.”

Tigerstar snorted. “A warrior would never try to harm the Clans.”

“Really?” Squirrelflight stared at him. “I suppose you’re too young to remember the Great Battle.”

“I know we lost Clanmates,” he growled.

“They were killed by cats who used to be warriors,” Squirrelflight mewed darkly.

“But the Great Battle threatened all the Clans.” Tigerstar’s pelt prickled. “This is ThunderClan’s problem.”

Rootpaw blinked. Did he really believe that? Alarm flashed in the ghost’s eyes.

Shadowsight stepped in front of his father. “An impostor is leader of ThunderClan,” he mewed. “Because of him, cats in every Clan want to punish their Clanmates. How can you say it’s just a ThunderClan problem?”

The ghost leaned toward Rootpaw. “Remind Tigerstar that he and I are kin,” he murmured. “And that I took him in when Darktail drove him from his Clan. He owes me. He owes ThunderClan.”

Rootpaw stared at the ghost, still tired from making it appear. “How can I say that?” he murmured, as quietly as he could. Didn’t the ghost realize that Tigerstar was the leader of another Clan?

The ghost stared at him sternly. “Say it however you like,” he growled. “But say it. We need Tigerstar’s help.”

The ghost was right. Rootpaw squared his shoulders and faced the ShadowClan leader. “I thought Bramblestar was your kin.”

“Clan is more important than kin,” Tigerstar growled.

Rootpaw narrowed his eyes. “I heard he took you in when Darktail chased you out of ShadowClan.”

“That’s right!” Squirrelflight flicked her tail eagerly. “We gave you sanctuary.”

Tigerstar looked at her warily as the ShadowClan cats exchanged glances.

Tawnypelt padded forward. “Darktail tore our Clan apart, and the other Clans stood up to him,” she mewed.

Tigerstar frowned. “They did it to protect themselves, not us.”

Dovewing gazed at the ShadowClan leader. “Do you really believe that this impostor doesn’t mean to harm us all? We can’t let him carry on as leader of ThunderClan. He’s made it clear time and time again that he wants to tell every Clan what to do, not just ThunderClan.”

Tawnypelt nodded. “He threatened to replace you with another leader, remember?”

Tigerstar met the tortoiseshell’s clear, green gaze and held it for a moment. Then he dipped his head. “You’re right.” He looked around at his warriors. “This isn’t something we can ignore. ThunderClan needs its rightful leader back for all our sakes.”

As hope flashed in Rootpaw’s chest, Dovewing lifted her tail. “Can Squirrelflight stay here?” she mewed.

“Yes.” Tigerstar met his mate’s gaze. “She will be treated like a Clanmate for as long as she’s with us. In the meantime, we need to come up with a plan to get rid of this impostor.”

“Kill him!” Whorlpelt flexed his claws. “If he’s not a leader, he won’t have nine lives. It’ll be easy.”

The ghost bristled beside Rootpaw. “If you kill him,” Rootpaw mewed, stepping forward quickly. “the real Bramblestar’s ghost won’t have a body to return to.”

Tree tipped his head. “We have to bide our time,” he mewed. “We need to get the support of every Clan. We can’t let this turn into war.”

Squirrelflight nodded. “The impostor mustn’t realize that we know he’s not Bramblestar.” She looked at Tree. “You have to carry on with your atonement.”

“Do I tell the other Clans what I’ve told you?” Tree blinked at her.

“Not until we’re sure they’re ready to hear,” mewed Squirrelflight.

Puddleshine looked thoughtful. “I can share what we know with the other medicine cats,” he suggested. “They might be able to influence their Clans without directly challenging the cats who support the impostor.”

Tawnypelt frowned. “But surely no cat would support him if they knew he was an impostor?”

Squirrelflight shifted her paws. “It’s not an easy story to believe,” she mewed. “I wasn’t ready to believe it at first, and I shared a den with him.” She shuddered. “Puddleshine’s right. We should try to persuade the other Clans through their medicine cats.”

“I’ll tell the others at the next half-moon meeting,” Puddleshine mewed.

Dovewing blinked at Tigerstar. “I’ll have to go back into exile,” she told him. “So that the impostor thinks we agree with him.”

Tigerstar looked alarmed. “It’s too dangerous.”

“I won’t go far,” Dovewing promised him. “If I’m free to roam where I like, I might be able to keep an eye on ThunderClan.”

“Be careful.” Tigerstar’s pelt lifted along his spine.

Dovewing met his gaze. “I’ll be very careful,” she promised.

Rootpaw glanced at the ghost. Hope was glistening in its eyes. He’d done what it had asked. And he’d made it visible to the others. He couldn’t help feeling a glimmer of pride. Perhaps being like Tree wasn’t so bad after all—as long as no cat found out. He looked around at the ShadowClan cats. They were willing to stand up to the impostor. Despite the fear swirling beneath his pelt, Rootpaw felt hopeful. And yet ShadowClan was only one Clan. What if they failed? What if the other Clans continued to support the impostor? Would following the warrior code lead them to their own destruction?