The Silent Thaw

“I speak for StarClan!” Bramblestar showed his teeth.

Harestar padded to the edge of the branch. “Why won’t StarClan speak for themselves?”

Bramblestar rounded on him. “Because the codebreakers haven’t been punished yet!”

“Exile them!” Scorchfur called from among the ShadowClan cats.

“The codebreakers must atone!” Mallownose’s call was echoed by angry yowls from his Clanmates.

Around the clearing, warriors lifted their voices in agreement.

Rootpaw pressed back a shiver. He moved closer to Tree. “Why are so many cats agreeing with Bramblestar?” he breathed to his father.

“They’re frightened by StarClan’s silence,” Tree answered softly. “They’ll do anything to bring them back.”

Rootpaw scanned the crowd, relieved when he spotted Sneezecloud and Bristlefrost. Cloverfoot was standing beside the other deputies. Spotfur and Stemleaf watched quietly among their Clanmates. They knew that Bramblestar was an impostor. He glanced at Tree. “The other cats from the secret meeting are here. Do you think they’ll speak out?”

“Would you?” Tree eyed him grimly as the calls of the Clan cats rang around the clearing.

Rootpaw swallowed. We’re outnumbered.

Bramblestar gazed approvingly over the Clans. “I’m glad I’m no longer the only cat who sees that StarClan won’t return until the codebreakers have atoned.”

Mistystar’s eyes glittered nervously as she looked at Bramblestar. “It’s strange that you knew what StarClan wanted before

Shadowsight shared their codebreaking message with the Clans.”

Bramblestar glared at her coldly. “I lost a life, remember? I was the last leader to commune with StarClan. It was clear to me then what they wanted. Shadowsight’s vision simply confirmed it for the rest of you.”

Shadowsight glanced nervously into the Great Oak. “I’m not sure my vision was from StarClan,” he mewed.

Rootpaw stiffened as Puddleshine shot Shadowsight a warning look. Was the older ShadowClan medicine cat trying to keep him quiet? But Shadowsight pressed on.

“I may have misunderstood the message.”

Bramblestar swished his tail. “Why would you doubt yourself? Your vision cured my fever.”

“My vision made you lose a life.” Shadowsight shifted his paws uneasily. “And StarClan hasn’t spoken since they told me the Clans would suffer. Why would they send me a vision that would turn Clanmates against one another and then not speak? They’re supposed to help us.”

Bramblestar leaned over the edge of the branch and stared at Shadowsight like a hunter eyeing prey. He flexed his claws, a threat in his gaze. Rootpaw edged forward, his breath catching in his throat. The ShadowClan medicine cat looked suddenly small. Was Bramblestar going to attack him?

Bramblestar’s fur smoothed. The menace faded from his eyes and he dipped his head. “You are young,” he mewed indulgently. “You were still an apprentice when your visions started. I’m not surprised you have trouble telling truth from imagination. But the visions you’ve shared with us have been clear. They spoke to you, named the codebreakers . . . and some of those codebreakers were cats you could never have known about.” His gaze drifted around at the gathered cats as he went on. “Would any cat deny that those named in his vision have broken the code?”

Tigerstar pricked his ears angrily. “Every cat has broken the code at some time, whether they meant to or not. What is important is a warrior’s heart. If a warrior is loyal and honorable, who cares if they made a mistake in the past?”

“StarClan does.” Bramblestar faced the ShadowClan leader. “Their message was very clear.”

“The message was clear.” Shadowsight padded farther forward, craning his neck to stare at Bramblestar. “But I don’t think it came from StarClan.”

“Nonsense!” Bramblestar’s pelt twitched. “Who else could it have come from?”

Berrynose gazed eagerly at his leader. “Only StarClan would care about the warrior code!”

“StarClan makes rules for a reason!” Mallownose yowled from among the RiverClan cats. “We must obey them.”

“The code has been broken!” Scorchfur glanced up from the ShadowClan warriors.

Rootpaw caught Bristlefrost’s eye. She looked at him helplessly as, once more, yowls of agreement rose from every Clan. Stemleaf and Spotfur moved closer together. Cloverfoot stared somberly at the gathered cats.

“The codebreakers must atone!” Harrybrook lashed his tail.

Sparrowpelt pricked his ears. “We must bring StarClan back,” he called. “They are silent for a reason.”

Rootpaw shrank from his Clanmates. Were SkyClan cats siding with Bramblestar? He glanced to the edge of the clearing, where the ghost watched in dismay, pressing his belly to the earth like a cornered rabbit. Rootpaw’s heart felt heavy with dread. The ghost must realize the danger. If warriors from every Clan believed atonement was the only way to bring StarClan back, to stand against them could mean war. Would the ghost want to get rid of the impostor if it meant Clanmate fighting Clanmate?