The Silent Thaw

Bramblestar padded closer. “It would be a good way to prove to your Clanmates that you’re more interested in helping them than in wandering off on your own private missions.” He glanced ominously at Flamepaw. “A mother who’s so worried about taking care of her kits would want to set them a good example.”

Bristlefrost felt suddenly cold, unnerved by the threat in Bramblestar’s mew.

“Sure.” Sparkpelt nodded. “If that would help.”

“Go on, then.” Bramblestar nodded toward the camp entrance. “Off you go.”

Sparkpelt headed away, glancing back nervously as she crossed the clearing.

But Bramblestar had already turned to pad to his spot beneath the Highledge. He settled down and looked expectantly at Squirrelflight.

The ThunderClan deputy watched her daughter leave the camp, then flashed a look at Bristlefrost, which seemed to say, See? It’s not him.

A chill slid beneath Bristlefrost’s fur. It has to be him! Who else

could it be? She pushed back a tingle of foreboding as Squirrelflight joined Bramblestar, her pelt rippling along her spine.

Bristlefrost glanced again at the camp entrance. Sparkpelt had been gone all afternoon. Would she be back soon? Most of the patrols had returned, and Flamepaw had finished patching the elders’ roof.

Bristlefrost’s belly growled and she headed toward the fresh-kill pile. As she took a shrew from the top and headed to the patch of grass where Thriftear was sharing a mouse with Twigbranch, paw steps sounded at the entrance. Her heart leaped as Lionblaze padded into camp. His pelt was unkempt and his eyes hollow. He crossed the clearing, his head high as he stopped in front of Bramblestar.

His Clanmates turned to watch, relief showing in their eyes, but no cat spoke as Lionblaze faced Bramblestar.

“The quarter moon is up,” the golden warrior mewed. “I’ve come home to take care of my Clan.”

“The quarter moon was up two days ago,” Bramblestar grumbled. “What took you so long?”

Lionblaze stared down at his paws. “I didn’t want to hunt close to Clan territory,” he growled, “so I ended up farther and farther away from the lake. I ran into a Clan of Twolegs, whose mouse-brained kits seemed intent on making me their kittypet. They wouldn’t stop chasing me! I managed to lose them, but I lost track of my way home, too.”

Bramblestar snorted a laugh as he got to his paws. Bristlefrost searched his gaze. Was he relieved to see Lionblaze home and safe? His face gave nothing away.

“He looks thin,” Thriftear whispered, looking at Lionblaze.

“But he’s safe now.” Bristlefrost shifted guiltily. If she hadn’t reported him, he’d never have been exiled. Is he really safe now? She remembered Bramblestar’s warning at the Gathering. He’d said the codebreakers must atone. And Lionblaze had been named. Perhaps the ThunderClan leader was planning to punish Lionblaze again.

Bramblestar’s gaze flitted over Lionblaze. “It looks like your time away will make you appreciate your life here,” he meowed.

Lionblaze shook out his pelt. “A warrior is not meant to live without a Clan,” he answered. “But I’m home now and ready to return to my duties.”

Bramblestar narrowed his eyes. “Not so fast.”

Bristlefrost pricked her ears. Was he going to send Lionblaze away again?

“While you were away, StarClan named you as a codebreaker.” Bramblestar stared darkly at the tom.

Lionblaze stiffened. “What?”

“Shadowsight had a vision,” Bramblestar explained. “It named all the codebreakers in the Clans. They must atone, or their Clans will suffer.”

“Who’s suffering?” Lionblaze looked pointedly around his Clanmates, then at the fully stocked fresh-kill pile.

Bramblestar narrowed his eyes. “The suffering hasn’t started yet,” he mewed ominously.

“You believe the word of a ShadowClan cat over your own Clanmate’s honor?” Lionblaze squared his shoulders. “I haven’t broken any code!”

“What about crossing the WindClan border?” Bramblestar growled.

“I’ve paid for that.” Lionblaze glared at him.

Squirrelflight got to her paws, her fur ruffled. “I was named too,” she told Lionblaze, as though she wanted to reassure him. “So was Jayfeather and—”

“Jayfeather?” Lionblaze’s gaze flashed toward the medicine den. “What’s he ever done but help his Clan?”

Squirrelflight looked at the ground. “I think you are paying for my mistake.”

“Because you and Leafpool lied about who our mother was?” Lionblaze sounded as though he couldn’t believe his ears.

She nodded meekly.

“But that was moons ago!” Lionblaze snapped. “Why should StarClan drag that up now? And what has it got to do with me and Jayfeather? Did we break the code by being born?”

Bramblestar shrugged. “It’s pointless arguing,” he mewed smoothly. “StarClan has spoken. We must obey them.”

“How?” Lionblaze snapped. “Am I supposed to apologize for being alive?”

“No.” Bramblestar padded to the middle of the clearing and looked around at his Clanmates. “But I think it’s time we began to atone.”