The Silent Thaw

Shadowsight followed, keeping close as they scanned the meadow for a sign of Dovewing. He tasted the air, but the stench of monsters and Twolegs fouled his tongue. “How will we find her?” Panic began to spiral in his chest. What if she’d gone deep into the Twolegplace, or kept traveling? They might not catch up to her until it was too late.

“Look.” Tigerstar halted and sniffed a smudged paw print beside a dirty puddle.

“Is it Dovewing’s?” Shadowsight stared at his father, hope piercing his heart, almost too sharp to bear.

Tigerstar frowned. “I don’t know. The stench here drowns out every scent.”

“Are you sure she didn’t go around the Twolegplace?” Shadowsight blinked anxiously at his father.

“Her scent led here,” Tigerstar told him. “We left not long after her. She has to be nearby.” As he spoke, a clatter split the air. Shadowsight turned, his heart bursting with fear, as he saw a scrapcan rolling along the ground, its top bowling away and spinning until it tumbled onto its side. An orange cat streaked away from it, bristling, while a black-and-white tom raced after it, ears flat and tail down.

“Scavengers.” Tigerstar stared after them, the fur prickling along his spine.

Shadowsight felt sick. Dovewing was here somewhere, among loners and rogues. He moved closer to Tigerstar. “We have to find her.”

Tigerstar had stiffened. He was staring toward the scrapcan.

Shadowsight followed his gaze. Gray fur moved in the shadows beneath a pile of Twoleg clutter. He recognized the pelt. “Dovewing!” Joy bursting in his chest, he raced across toward her, his paws sliding on the slimy earth.

As he neared, Dovewing slid out of the darkness, her eyes wide. “Shadowsight! What are you doing here?” Her gaze slid past him to Tigerstar. “Is something wrong in ShadowClan?”

“No.” Shadowsight slithered to a halt in front of her and thrust his muzzle against her cheek as Tigerstar pulled up beside them and blinked happily at Dovewing.

“You have to come home,” Tigerstar mewed.

“But I haven’t finished my atonement,” Dovewing told him.

“You don’t have to atone,” Shadowsight told her, quickly explaining that it had not been StarClan sending him visions, but some other cat.

When he’d finished, Dovewing met his gaze. “If you’re lying to protect me, you don’t have to.”

“I’m not,” he mewed earnestly. “You told me to always tell the truth. This is the truth. I can feel it in my heart.”

Tigerstar padded to his side. “I believe him,” he mewed. “Some cat wants to hurt the Clans, and they’ve used Shadowsight to reach us. It’s too dangerous for any of us to be away from our Clanmates. Until we find out what’s happening, we need to stick together.”

Dovewing glanced back at the pile of Twoleg trash where she’d been sheltering. She flicked her tail decisively. “In that case, we’d better go home.”

Shadowsight took a long, deep breath. Dovewing was safe. Once they were home, they could figure out what was going on and come up with a plan to deal with it. As Tigerstar and Dovewing began to pick their way across the grimy meadow, he slid between them. With or without StarClan, they’d always be with him. He shivered as foreboding pricked his pelt. Unless it was too late, and the visions he’d shared with the Clans were already enough to destroy them.

Chapter 19

Rootpaw eagerly scanned the island clearing. A bright full moon shone in the crow-black sky. The other Clans had already arrived and were moving like ripples on the lake, their pelts glossy in the moonlight as they dipped their heads in greeting and shared gossip. He saw Squirrelflight standing beside Crowfeather and Cloverfoot. Had the ThunderClan deputy managed to speak to the leaders of the other Clans and warn them that Bramblestar was an impostor? He searched Crowfeather’s gaze. Did the WindClan deputy know? Frustration prickled beneath Rootpaw’s pelt. It was impossible to tell. He’d have to wait until the meeting began to see if they would challenge Bramblestar.

Tree and Violetshine pushed their way among the gathered cats while Leafstar and Hawkwing headed for the Great Oak. Bramblestar’s ghost skirted the clearing, heading toward the far side, its gaze fixed on the false Bramblestar as the ThunderClan leader leaped into the Oak. The ghost had shadowed the SkyClan patrol as they’d traveled to the island. Rootpaw was relieved it was keeping its distance, finally understanding that Rootpaw couldn’t acknowledge it when he was with his Clanmates.

Frecklewish’s pelt brushed Rootpaw’s. “We need to speak with Shadowsight.”

Rootpaw nodded. He hadn’t forgotten his promise at the secret meeting. He and Frecklewish were going to ask Shadowsight about his visions. Did the ShadowClan medicine cat have any idea that Bramblestar was an impostor? He kept close to Frecklewish as she nosed her way between the gathered warriors to where Shadowsight stood, close to Tigerstar.

“Hi, Frecklewish.” Alderheart greeted her warmly before they reached him.