Veil Of Shadows

A heavy silence followed. Bristlefrost watched, full of mounting dread, until she saw a ripple pass through Harestar’s body and he raised his head, letting out a panicked gasp. All the cats, from all five Clans, let out murmurs of shock and relief.

Harestar scrambled to his paws, his wide eyes flashing fearfully. “What . . . what happened?” His gaze rested on Crowfeather, and he pressed himself against his deputy, as though there had never been harsh words and the threat of exile between them.

“Is it really you?” Harestar asked.

“Yes, it’s me. You’re on Clan territory.” Crowfeather assured him. “You’re not in StarClan anymore.”

Bristlefrost watched as Harestar gazed around, seeing the eager expressions on the faces of the assembled warriors, clearly waiting for him to confirm that he had been in StarClan. Shakily he raised a paw to his throat to feel that Lionblaze’s wound had already closed up. He shook his head, his whole body shivering.

“I was in StarClan’s hunting grounds,” he rasped. “But I heard only distorted voices, and saw only the haziest figures, no more than a blur. Our warrior ancestors were still there, but it was like they were fading into nothing. . . .”

Bristlefrost turned to look for Bramblestar; every other warrior was doing the same. Soon she spotted him, standing to one side in the shadow of a thornbush. His gaze was fixed on Harestar, his amber eyes full of anger and disbelief, the revived leader apparently the last thing he’d wanted to see.

“That’s not what you said when you returned from StarClan,” Crowfeather challenged Bramblestar. “You said you spoke to them.”

Bramblestar gave his pelt a shake and thrust out his chest, recovering his usual arrogance. “No cat should question me like this,” he hissed, stalking forward until he stood nose to nose with Crowfeather. “You weren’t there! I did speak with StarClan. The only reason they’re fading now is because of all of you. You insist on not listening to me, so of course the situation is getting worse. What did you expect? StarClan probably rejected Harestar because he’s just another codebreaker.”

Back to his full strength now, Harestar padded up to Bramblestar, gesturing with his tail for Crowfeather to move back a pace. “I am no codebreaker, and I am no liar,” he growled.

“The only liar here is you. You’re not Bramblestar. You’ve taken his body, but the real Bramblestar never would have done the things you have.”

Bramblestar turned at the sound of Tigerstar’s voice. Bristlefrost noticed that cats were gathering around the ShadowClan leader: not just his own Clan, but SkyClan and some RiverClan cats as well. Even some WindClan warriors were moving toward him, convinced by Harestar’s revival.

The impostor noticed that, too. “I don’t believe what I’m seeing!” he exclaimed, his voice outraged. “Are Clan cats really siding with a leader who harbors codebreakers? Don’t you want to see StarClan again?”

No cat answered. Bristlefrost shivered to see the accusing glares they fixed on him.

“Well, you’re ruining your chances!” the false Bramblestar blustered. “When I do succeed in bringing StarClan back, you’ll all be punished—even worse than you are now!”

Tigerstar took a pace forward. “Whether they’re fading or not, I’m going to send you to StarClan right now!” he snarled.

Without more warning he hurled himself at the impostor, and the two leaders fell to the ground in one rolling, spitting ball of fur. Bristlefrost stood, appalled, on the edge of the fight. Tigerstar will kill him! I’m supposed to protect him, but I’d just be ripped to shreds!

The watching cats edged backward to give the battling leaders space as they bit and clawed at each other. At first they were silent in shock; then they gradually began to call out encouragement.

“Tigerstar! Tigerstar!”

Fury at hearing every cat yowling his enemy’s name seemed to give Bramblestar extra strength. He swiped both forepaws at Tigerstar, startling the younger warrior. Taken aback for a moment, Tigerstar was too late to stop Bramblestar throwing him onto his back and slashing at his belly. Tigerstar finally forced him off and leapt to his paws, cuffing Bramblestar’s ears with his forepaws. But Bramblestar took the opportunity to throw his weight at Tigerstar’s vulnerable belly, forcing him onto the ground again. Bramblestar stood over him, his eyes gleaming.

Bristlefrost’s belly lurched with fear as Bramblestar raised a bloody paw, his claws extended, to strike the blow that would send Tigerstar to StarClan.

But the impostor never struck. Instead he froze, staring at something behind Bristlefrost. She turned to see the crowd of cats parting and Squirrelflight thrusting her way to the front.

“You’re . . . you’re alive?” Bramblestar choked out.