The Silent Thaw

“I appreciate it,” she mewed quickly.

He seemed to relax again. “It’s strange.” As he paused, his gaze drifted past her. “I noticed you were out of camp a few nights before the Gathering. A night patrol, perhaps?” He didn’t wait for her to answer. “I’m sure you had your Clan’s best interests at heart. I don’t doubt your loyalty, because you know what I do to cats who aren’t loyal.” He narrowed his eyes.

Her mouth went dry as his gaze flicked back to her. That’s a threat. She stared at him wordlessly. Is he telling me he knows about the meeting? Or is he just warning me to be careful? “The warrior code is clear about loyalty,” she mewed fervently. “A true warrior is loyal to their Clan above all.” Her thoughts whirled. She had to warn Twigbranch and Finleap. And Rootpaw! Every cat who was at the meeting must know that Bramblestar suspected something. Her heart quickened. But how could she reach them when he was keeping such a close eye on her?

Bramblestar’s tail flicked. “Would you do me a favor?”

“Of course.” She pricked her ears.

“I want you to check on Squirrelflight,” he told her. “I’ve heard rumors that she’s still somewhere around the lake, but I don’t know where.” His whiskers quivered. “Do you think you could find out?” Bramblestar hesitated. “I want you to make sure she’s left Clan land.”

He looked distracted, his eyes glittering anxiously for a moment, and Bristlefrost wondered if he was actually worried about Squirrelflight. “I could try,” she mewed.

“Try?” His eyes widened.

“I’ll do it,” she promised. For the first time since the meeting, excitement fizzed in her paws. She might be able to speak to Rootpaw while she was tracking Squirrelflight. He’d spread the word. She tried to cover her enthusiasm. “When do you want me to leave?”

“How about now?” Bramblestar looked at her inquiringly, but she knew it was an order rather than a question.

She dipped her head. “I’ll leave straight away.” She hurried out of the den and scrambled down the rock tumble, sending stones clattering into the clearing.

Finleap looked up from his digging, and she met his gaze, hoping he saw the warning in it. He nudged Twigbranch, and they both watched her as she headed for the entrance. She quickened her pace as she ducked through it and broke into a run as soon as she was outside. Racing up the slope, she followed the route she’d escorted Squirrelflight along a few days earlier. The brambles they’d brushed past still smelled of their scent. Trees blurred around her as she charged through the forest, following the trail to the SkyClan border. That was where they’d left her. She’d told them she was heading toward the mountains, and they’d watched her pad sadly away before turning back to camp.

Bristlefrost pulled up as she reached the scent line and tasted the air. Did Bramblestar expect her to follow Squirrelflight’s scent onto another Clan’s land? She frowned. No. That would be breaking the warrior code. She gazed across the border to where the land sloped upward and boulders jutted from the forest floor. Her heart quickened as she saw pelts moving through the undergrowth. Opening her mouth, she let their scents bathe her tongue, excited to taste Rootpaw’s scent. She couldn’t help feeling that StarClan—wherever it had gone—was still on her side.

She stared eagerly over the border, willing his patrol to head this way. She felt a surge of relief when she saw them padding toward her.

Dewspring and Harrybrook were with the SkyClan apprentice, and she caught their eye, beckoning the patrol closer with a nod.

Dewspring narrowed his eyes as he approached her. “Is something wrong?”

“I wanted to talk to Rootpaw,” she told him.

Rootpaw stopped beside his mentor and frowned. “What about?”

“Something important.” Bristlefrost stared at him urgently.

Harrybrook growled. “I thought we’d made it clear at the Gathering that you’re from different Clans.”

“I know.” Bristlefrost blinked apologetically at the SkyClan warrior. “But I was so mean to him at the Gathering. I wanted to apologize.”

“He’ll live,” Dewspring sniffed.

Rootpaw looked at his mentor and shrugged. “It would be nice to hear a ThunderClan cat apologize to a SkyClan cat.”

Dewspring’s eyes flashed with amusement. “I guess,” he conceded. He exchanged glances with Harrybrook before looking back at Rootpaw. “Just make sure it’s a good apology. She’s embarrassed you a lot.”

Rootpaw crossed the border and nudged Bristlefrost away. “Has something happened?” he whispered when they were out of earshot.

“I think Bramblestar suspects I’m up to something. He noticed I was away from camp on the night of the meeting.”

Rootpaw’s pelt prickled along his spine. “Does he know about the meeting?”

“I’m not sure,” Bristlefrost told him. “He didn’t say anything definite.”

“We have to be careful.” Rootpaw glanced past her into the ThunderClan forest. “Did any cat follow you?”