The Silent Thaw

Bristlefrost glanced at Thriftear. She was staring at Bramblestar, her eyes round with worry. Around the clearing, her Clanmates exchanged uneasy glances.

Lionblaze padded after Bramblestar. “How do we ‘atone’?”

“The codebreakers must make things right.”

Bristlefrost’s belly tightened. What was he going to demand of the named cats? She glanced nervously at Twigbranch. The gray she-cat sat up, her ears twitching.

Bramblestar looked at Lionblaze. “The codebreakers must swear an oath.”

Is that all? Relief swamped Bristlefrost’s pelt. Beside her, Thriftear’s shoulders loosened. Twigbranch let out a long breath. Around the clearing, their Clanmates seemed to relax, their pelts smoothing.

“Okay.” Lionblaze lifted his chin. “Whatever you want, if it will get this over with. If StarClan thinks I’m a codebreaker, then I’ll atone.”

Twigbranch got to her paws and padded into the clearing. “So will I.”

Bramblestar lifted his muzzle. “Jayfeather!”

A few moments later, Jayfeather hurried from the medicine den. Flecks of herbs were caught in his pelt. “What is it?” He blinked blindly toward the camp entrance. “Is Sparkpelt back?” His nose twitched suddenly. “Lionblaze!” He hurried to the clearing as he smelled his brother’s scent and, purring, touched his nose to Lionblaze’s cheek. “Are you well? Have you had enough to eat?” He sniffed Lionblaze anxiously.

“I’m fine,” Lionblaze promised.

“I want you to come to the medicine den so I can check you over properly,” Jayfeather told him. “You smell a bit sour.”

“That’s just from sleeping on strange bracken,” Lionblaze told him.

Bramblestar flicked his tail. “You can have your reunion later. First you must swear your oath.”

“Oath?” Jayfeather’s eyes widened.

“He wants us to make amends to StarClan for breaking the code,” Lionblaze explained.

Jayfeather snorted. “If I’ve broken the code then I’m sorry for it, but every cat knows I’m loyal. I don’t need to swear an oath.”

“Just do it,” Lionblaze told him. “Then perhaps we can get back to normal.”

Bramblestar’s pelt twitched. “We can get back to normal when I say so,” he growled. “This oath is just so that your Clanmates can see that you’re sorry and that you are committed to obeying the code from now on.”

“Next time,” Lionblaze muttered, “I’ll check who my parents are before I’m born.”

Bristlefrost’s heart sank in her chest when she saw Bramblestar’s eyes light up with rage. Why was Lionblaze provoking him? The ThunderClan leader looked ready to spit something back at the warrior, but Squirrelflight hurried forward before he could speak.

Her eyes flashed with guilt. “Do I have to take the oath too?”

Bramblestar waved her away with a flick of his tail. “You’ve spent time in StarClan recently. Our ancestors sent you back to us.” Bristlefrost had been told the story of how the deputy, and her medicine-cat sister, Leafpool, both went to StarClan after being injured in a landslide. Squirrelflight returned, but Leafpool did not.

“They have clearly forgiven you,” Bramblestar went on. “There’s no need for you to take the oath.”

Squirrelflight stared at him, surprised.

You see! Bristlefrost felt a rush of happiness. Bramblestar hasn’t changed. He’s still fair. She blinked expectantly at Jayfeather, Lionblaze, and Twigbranch. What would the oath be? This would help their ancestors forgive them, she was sure. I hope you’re listening, StarClan.

Bramblestar turned to face Jayfeather, Lionblaze and Twigbranch. “Repeat after me,” he ordered. “‘StarClan, forgive me for breaking your code.’”

Haltingly, the three cats echoed his words. Lionblaze shifted his paws awkwardly as Bramblestar went on.

“‘I promise I will always obey my leader without question.’” The ThunderClan leader paused to let them repeat it. “‘And I will do whatever I’m asked for the good of the Clan.’”

“As if we didn’t before,” Jayfeather mumbled when he’d finished saying the words.

Bramblestar grunted. “Just repeat it,” he growled. “You don’t need to comment. This is for the good of the Clan—to bring StarClan back.” He pressed on. “‘I will hunt only for my Clan. I will protect my Clanmates with my life. . . .’”

As the rules went on, Bristlefrost glanced at the entrance. Sparkpelt still wasn’t back. She wondered if the she-cat had found no catmint at the Twolegplace and had gone farther in search of new growth. She looked back at the clearing. Jayfeather, Lionblaze, and Twigbranch were repeating the last words of their oath.

“‘If I break the code again, I will be exiled from my Clan to protect them from StarClan’s anger.’”

Exiled? Bristlefrost frowned, noticing her Clanmates glancing at one another questioningly. She knew they were thinking the same thing she was—would this exile be permanent?

Thornclaw padded forward. “Surely a cat must do more than break the code to be exiled.”