The Silent Thaw

“Not enough to enforce the warrior code and make your warriors atone.” Bramblestar turned his icy gaze on the SkyClan leader. “It seems that our warriors understand that atonement is the only way to bring StarClan back, but their leaders are dragging their paws. They clearly think they’re above StarClan. They don’t want to make their Clanmates atone.” His mew grew silky as he scanned the leaders beside him on the branch. “But Tree is supposed to be persuasive. You call him your mediator. Perhaps he can convince each of you that it’s in your Clan’s best interest to send your codebreakers into exile until they have earned StarClan’s forgiveness.”

Tree’s ears flattened. “What if I refuse?”

Bramblestar swung his muzzle toward the yellow tom. “The Clans have shown already that they don’t trust your loyalty. What will they think if you refuse to help them now?” His eyes darkened menacingly as he went on. “There might be unpleasant consequences, don’t you think? Not just for you, but for your kin.”

At the edge of the clearing, the ghost got to its paws, its gaze shimmering anxiously in the moonlight. Rootpaw forced his fur to remain flat as a chill reached to his bones. Bramblestar was threatening him and Violetshine too. He glanced at Frecklewish, hoping for reassurance, but she looked as scared as he felt. Sneezecloud, Cloverfoot, Breezepelt, and Stemleaf seemed to shrink. None of the cats from the secret meeting seemed ready to stand up for him or Tree. Disappointment jabbed his heart. Had they been all talk? Was no cat going to act? He gazed desperately at Bristlefrost. She must understand how unfair this was. Tree had only tried to help the Clans, but the impostor was making him look like a traitor.

Do something!

he pleaded. She stared back at him helplessly. What could she do? What could either of them do when they were so outnumbered?

“Hey!” Berrynose growled from among the ThunderClan cats. “Why’s Rootpaw staring at Bristlefrost?”

Rootpaw froze as the gazes of the Clans jerked toward him.

“They’ve been looking at each other since the Gathering began,” Yarrowleaf growled.

“What are you up to?” Harrybrook glared suspiciously at Rootpaw.

Rootpaw stared back wordlessly. Guilt spiked his belly as he remembered the meeting at the greenleaf Twolegplace. He dropped his gaze, frightened that he’d betray his secret.

“Bristlefrost is one of Bramblestar’s most loyal warriors.” Berrynose’s gaze was sharp with accusation. “Perhaps he’s trying to turn her against our leader.”

Bristlefrost whisked her tail. “No cat could turn me against my Clan,” she mewed. “Especially not an apprentice from another Clan.”

Macgyver shrugged. “Rootpaw’s not trying anything of the sort. He’s always

looking at Bristlefrost. He’s got a crush on her, remember?”

The gazes of the Clan seemed to soften, but Rootpaw’s pelt began to burn.

Bristlefrost’s shifted awkwardly. “If he’s got a crush on me, that’s his problem, not mine. He’s not my Clanmate.” Rootpaw tried not to flinch. Her words sliced through his heart as she went on. “I don’t care anything about him. Besides, I’d never break the code.”

Berrynose frowned. “Then why have you been looking at him?”

Rootpaw’s ears twitched as silence gripped the clearing. Berrynose seemed determined to see treachery in their looks. Rootpaw blinked at the ThunderClan warrior, pushing the hurt away. He needed to stop this now. No cat could know that they’d been at the meeting. “I still like her, okay? Is that against the code?”

Berrynose stared at him for a moment, then shrugged. “So long as you don’t act on it.”

“Of course I won’t.” Rootpaw fluffed out his fur. “It’s hopeless. I’d never break the code, nor would Bristlefrost. But it doesn’t stop me liking her. She’s the bravest, most loyal warrior I know.”

Embarrassment squirmed in his belly as he heard indulgent mews ripple through the crowd. They think it’s cute. He glanced at Bristlefrost apologetically. It was the only way to protect her. As he looked away, his heart quickened. Was that fondness he’d seen in her gaze?

Bramblestar lashed his tail. “Enough of this!” As the gathered cats turned back to the impostor, he glared at them impatiently. “We didn’t meet here to talk about apprentice crushes. We need to bring StarClan back, and the only way to do that is to stick to the code and exile any cat who breaks it.” He glared at the other leaders. “And if you can’t accept that now, I hope Tree will be able to change your minds.”

Rootpaw glanced up at the impostor. Did he really think Tree would try to persuade another cat to believe something he didn’t believe himself? Hope glimmered in his heart. The impostor was arrogant enough to think he could force any warrior to do anything. He might push the Clans too far. No matter how scared they were of losing StarClan, nothing could make a warrior abandon their honor.

“Let’s go.” Tree’s mew nudged him from his thoughts. The crowd was melting away as the Clans headed for the long grass.