The Silent Thaw

Chapter 24

Shadowsight gazed into the black night sky. The half-moon dazzled him, shining brightly between the jagged pine tops. As soon as Rootpaw and Tree arrived, they’d leave for the Moonpool. He fluffed out his fur against the cold and glanced eagerly at the camp entrance. Paw steps were scuffing the earth beyond.

Puddleshine padded from the medicine den. “Are they here yet?”

“They’re coming.” As Shadowsight nodded toward the entrance, Rootpaw ducked into the camp, his gaze glittering nervously.

Tree padded after him. The yellow tom scanned the clearing. Most of the Clan had gone to their nests after a long day’s patrolling. But Scorchfur and Whorlpelt lingered outside the warriors’ den, watching Shadowsight and Puddleshine. Squirrelflight stood beside them, her pelt ruffled. They knew what this meeting could mean. If the medicine cats agreed that Bramblestar was an impostor, and that he meant to harm the Clans, it could lead to war. How else could the Clans drive him out?

Tree waited beside the entrance while Rootpaw hurried to meet Shadowsight.

“Are you ready?” Rootpaw mewed.

Shadowsight nodded. “I hope the other medicine cats will believe me.”

“It’ll be okay,” Puddleshine reassured him. The medicine cat padded toward the entrance. Shadowsight followed, wishing this were another cat’s problem.

“Be careful,” Scorchfur called.

Shadowsight glanced back at the dark gray warrior. “We’ll be back by dawn.”

“Wait!” Tigerstar burst from his den, Dovewing at his heels. Tigerstar’s gaze was dark.

Shadowsight halted, alarmed. “What’s wrong?”

“You mustn’t go,” Tigerstar told him.

Dovewing’s eyes shimmered with worry. “We’ve been talking. It’s too dangerous. You have to stay here.” She wove around Shadowsight protectively.

He ducked away from her. “But we have to tell the other Clans about Bramblestar.”

“Let Puddleshine tell them,” Tigerstar growled.

Tree frowned. “What are you worried about? Do you think the medicine cats will harm him?”

“Not the medicine cats.” Tigerstar fixed Shadowsight with his gaze. “But you said you felt a presence in the hollow the last time you were at the Moonpool, right?”

“Yes,” Shadowsight told him. “But it was just a feeling. I don’t think it can hurt me.”

Dovewing’s ears twitched. “We don’t know what we’re dealing with, but we know it’s powerful enough to silence StarClan and to steal Bramblestar’s body.”

Tigerstar nodded. “You should stay with your Clan, where you’re safe.”

Squirrelflight hurried toward them. “He must go,” she insisted. “Whoever’s been interfering with the Clans has been doing it through Shadowsight.”

Puddleshine nodded. “The medicine cats must be able to question him. They might see something he’s missed.”

Shadowsight lifted his tail. He didn’t need any cat to speak for him. He met Tigerstar’s gaze. “I’m going to do this,” he mewed firmly.

His father bristled. “But it’s dangerous!”

“I’m not a kit anymore.” Shadowsight lifted his muzzle. His father had to trust him. “I’m a medicine cat, and the Clans need my help.”

Tigerstar hesitated. Then he dipped his head. “You’re right,” he mewed. “We can’t stop you.”

Shadowsight blinked gratefully at his father. “Don’t worry—I’ll be careful. And I won’t be alone.”

Dovewing pressed her muzzle to Shadowsight’s cheek. “Come back as soon as you can.”

He rubbed his nose along her jaw. “I’ll be home by dawn.”

He turned before she could say any more and caught his father’s eye. Tigerstar was watching him, fear shadowing his gaze.

It was nearly moonhigh. There was no time to waste. Quickly, Shadowsight padded from the camp. Outside, the forest was swathed in shadow, and he strained to see ahead. He felt relieved as Rootpaw fell in beside him. The SkyClan apprentice’s face was grim. Behind them, Tree and Puddleshine followed in silence.

Rootpaw glanced at him. “What do you think the medicine cats will do once they know?”

“I hope they’ll tell their leaders.” Shadowsight hopped over a trailing vine.

“If the Clans unite, it will be easy to drive out the impostor,” Tree mewed.

Puddleshine quickened his pace. “But how will the ghost get back into his body then?”

Shadowsight glanced at the medicine cat. “Let’s deal with one problem at a time.”

They pushed on in silence, following the track to where it rose toward the ThunderClan border.

“Let’s travel through the greenleaf Twolegplace,” Puddleshine suggested as they skirted a large bramble. “So we avoid crossing ThunderClan territory.”

“It’ll take longer to get there.” Shadowsight glanced at his Clanmate.

“It’s better to be cautious,” Puddleshine insisted. “ThunderClan can’t be trusted.”

Tree frowned. “Do you think Bramblestar might try to stop us?”

“He would if he knew what we were planning,” Puddleshine mewed.

Shadowsight stifled a shiver. The forest seemed suddenly darker. A shadow flitted high in the branches ahead.

Rootpaw’s gaze flashed toward it. “It’s just an owl.” The SkyClan apprentice sounded relieved. Was he spooked too?

The forest floor was cold beneath Shadowsight’s paws. He could hear prey scurrying through the undergrowth. A warbler was chattering in the distance. He padded closer to Rootpaw, reassured by the warmth pulsing from the tom’s pelt.

The warbler fell silent, and Shadowsight pricked his ears. Had something startled it? He glanced nervously ahead. Don’t be mouse-brained. He’d made this trip plenty of times without feeling scared. As he shook out his pelt, his heart lurched. A screech of pain sliced through the air.

Shadowsight stopped. Tree spun around, scanning the forest, while Rootpaw tasted the air.

“Do you smell anything?” Tree blinked at his son.

Rootpaw frowned. “I can only smell mint.”

Puddleshine looked puzzled. “Mint doesn’t grow in this part of the forest.”

Shadowsight was straining to see through the darkness. “Some cat’s in trouble,” he mewed.

“It sounded like the yowl came from over there.” Tree began to head along a rise.

The screech sounded again. Shadowsight’s pelt bushed. “We have to help them!”

“This way!” Tree broke into a run.

Puddleshine hurried after him. “I can smell blood.” Alarm sharpened the medicine cat’s mew.

Shadowsight paused as the others charged away. How could they help an injured cat? They had no herbs with them. He glanced around. Cobwebs! If the cat was bleeding, cobwebs would staunch the flow until they could get them to safety.

“Shadowsight!” Puddleshine called from the darkness. “Are you coming?”

“I’m looking for cobwebs!” He hurried toward a gnarled oak. There would be cobwebs in the knotted bark. He ran his paw along a crevice, relieved as thick spider’s web clung to his paw. He hauled it out. “Have you found him?” His mew rang through the trees. No cat answered. He hurried between the trees, limping on three legs as he tried to keep the cobwebs off the ground. Peering through the shadows, he strained to see the others. “I’m coming!” he called. The forest answered with silence.

He frowned. Was he heading the right way? As he opened his mouth to taste for scents, something hard slammed into his flank. It knocked him over, and as he rolled onto his side, the stench of mint hit the back of his throat. A shadow reared beside him, and his heart seemed to burst as the silhouette of a tom rose against the starlit sky. It fell on him like a hawk. Claws raked his cheek. A paw lashed at his muzzle.

Struggling to escape, Shadowsight rolled onto his belly. Blood roared in his ears, as he felt the sharp sting of strong claws hooking into his pelt. They hauled him backward as he scrabbled against the earth. Desperately, he tried to remember a battle move. Pouncestep had taught him some. He bunched the muscles in his hind legs and tried to push up and unbalance his attacker, but a leg swept beneath his belly, knocking his paws from under him.

He rolled onto his back and tried to kick out with his hind legs, but his attacker crushed him against the earth with large, heavy paws. Eyes flashed in front of Shadowsight’s muzzle, glittering with hate. Shadowsight froze, helpless as he felt claws at his throat. He shrieked as he felt them dig into his flesh. His thoughts spun until he was dizzy with terror. The claws dug harder. His mind reeled as he fought for breath, pleading with StarClan for help.

But there was no answer, and darkness closed around him.