The Silent Thaw

Frecklewish slowed. “Hey, Alderheart.”

Rootpaw could tell she was trying to keep her mew light, but her gaze was flashing anxiously toward the young ShadowClan medicine cat.

“How’s SkyClan?” Alderheart asked. “Any sickness?”

“Not at the moment.” Frecklewish dipped her head politely and tried to move on.

Alderheart was clearly eager to chat. “Has marigold started sprouting in your territory?” he mewed.

“Not yet,” Frecklewish told him.

“There’re signs of some in the beech grove,” Alderheart told her. “But it’ll be another moon before we can pick it.”

“Hurry,” Rootpaw whispered in Frecklewish’s ear. “It looks like the Gathering’s about to start.” Bramblestar was staring expectantly from the lowest branch of the oak.

Frecklewish dipped her head again to Alderheart. “I just need to speak with Shadowsight before the meeting starts.”

“Really?” Alderheart looked puzzled. “Is there anything I should—”

Frecklewish hurried away before he could finish. Rootpaw glanced at the ThunderClan medicine cat apologetically as he followed his Clanmate.

Frecklewish and Rootpaw both nodded a greeting as they stopped beside Shadowsight, but the ShadowClan medicine cat seemed on edge, his gaze glittering in the moonlight. “Hi,” he said, barely meeting Frecklewish’s gaze.

“I wanted to speak to you,” Frecklewish told him. She glanced at Tigerstar. “In private.”

Tigerstar moved closer to his kit. “The meeting is about to start,” he meowed formally. “Perhaps you could speak to him afterward.”

As Shadowsight flashed his father a look, Rootpaw narrowed his eyes. Why was Tigerstar being so protective?

“I really need to speak to him now.” Frecklewish stared intently at Shadowsight.

“Maybe later.” Shadowsight dropped his gaze, shifting his paws self-consciously.

“Frecklewish!” Alderheart had followed them through the crowd. “What’s so important?” He looked anxiously from Frecklewish to Shadowsight. “Do you have news?”

“Nothing important.” Frecklewish’s pelt prickled, and Rootpaw could sense her frustration as Leafstar leaped into the oak. Mistystar and Harestar were hurrying to take their places. Tigerstar hesitated beside Shadowsight, clearly unwilling to leave him.

Frecklewish nodded to Rootpaw. “You’d better join your Clanmates,” she told him. “It looks like the Gathering’s about to start.”

Reluctantly, Rootpaw turned away and headed through the crowd. Glancing back, he saw Frecklewish take her place beneath the oak as Alderheart, Jayfeather, Mothwing, and Willowshine settled beside her. Only after Kestrelflight had settled down beside the SkyClan medicine cat, with Shadowsight and Puddleshine on his other side, did Tigerstar scramble up the trunk of the Great Oak.

Slipping between the Clans, Rootpaw noticed warriors glancing warily at one another. They seemed nervous. He could smell fear-scent in the air. Pelts prickled around him, and he was relieved to reach his Clanmates and settle next to Tree.

“What do you think will happen when the other leaders accuse Bramblestar of being an impostor?” he whispered to his father.

Tree glanced around at the gathered cats. “I don’t think it’d be wise of any cat to accuse him of anything yet,” he murmured.

“Why not?” Rootpaw blinked at him.

“While StarClan stays silent, Bramblestar can accuse any cat of codebreaking.”

Rootpaw frowned. “But why would any cat listen to an impostor?”

“Not every cat will believe that he is,” Tree murmured, moving closer. “Especially if he seems to speak for StarClan. Now watch and listen.”

In the Great Oak, Harestar and Mistystar hung back on the wide branch while Bramblestar stood at the front. Tigerstar was eyeing Bramblestar uneasily. Had Squirrelflight warned him? Rootpaw had seen her arrive at his own camp a few days ago, but Leafstar still hadn’t told the Clan why she’d come. Rootpaw’s tail twitched expectantly. Perhaps Leafstar was waiting until she could accuse Bramblestar directly.

The impostor swished his tail, glaring severely at the Clans until silence swept the clearing. “Last time we met,” he began, “no Clan would say how the codebreakers should be punished. I hope you have all decided now.”

“Exile!” Emberfoot called from WindClan.

Hootwhisker swished his tail eagerly. “The codebreakers must leave their Clans and atone before they can return.”

Bramblestar’s eyes glowed with satisfaction. “I’m glad some of you have begun to see sense. Atonement is the only way we’ll end StarClan’s silence, and exile is the best way for codebreakers to atone.”

Hootwhisker stared pointedly at Crowfeather. “Some of the codebreakers have refused,” he growled.

Rootpaw’s heart quickened. Had the WindClan deputy refused because Squirrelflight had managed to warn him and Harestar? Were they going to stand up to the ThunderClan leader?

Crowfeather’s hackles lifted. “Until I hear from StarClan, I’m not going anywhere.”

Bramblestar narrowed his eyes. “We’ve heard from StarClan. They say that the Clans will suffer until the codebreakers atone.”

Crowfeather scowled. “Why should we believe you?”