Bramblestar shifted on the branch, beckoning Rowanstar to his place beside the others. As the ShadowClan leader wove between the Clans, Bramblestar called to him. “You have recovered from the sickness.” Relief glowed in his moonlit gaze.
Rowanstar leaped onto the low branch and stood beside him. “The whole Clan has recovered.”
Mistystar looked surprised. “Then why haven’t you brought them?” Her gaze flicked to Tawnypelt and Tigerheart, who had pushed their way to the front.
Rowanstar lifted his chin. “They wouldn’t join us.” His gaze flashed angrily around the Clans. “They believe you betrayed them by allowing Onestar to withhold the herb we needed so desperately.”
Onestar growled. “You recovered, didn’t you? You never really needed it!”
Rowanstar snarled at the WindClan leader. “We only recovered because Harespring and Kestrelflight have more compassion than you! They gave us the herb!”
Shocked murmurs rippled through the crowd. Twigpaw stretched to see over the heads of the bigger cats. Kestrelflight seemed to shrink beneath his pelt. Harespring stared impassively at the gathered cats, betraying nothing. Twigpaw’s pelt prickled with curiosity. Why had Alderpaw dropped his gaze? Why was Jayfeather puffing out his chest? Had they known about this? Clearly Onestar hadn’t.
The WindClan leader’s eyes sparked with rage. He glared down at Harespring. “Is this true?”
His deputy looked up steadily. “I could not let a Clan die.”
Kestrelflight padded forward. “I consulted StarClan,” he mewed. “They told me that it was the right thing to do.”
Onestar’s fur lifted along his spine. He dragged his astonished gaze from his medicine cat to Rowanstar, but before he could speak, the ShadowClan leader flicked his tail. “You were right about the rogues, though, Onestar.”
Onestar stared at him.
“We should have driven them from the edge of our territory moons ago.” Rowanstar’s shoulders drooped. His anger over the herb seemed to drain from him. Suddenly he looked old, his pelt dull in the moonlight, his ribs showing where the sickness had ravaged him. “They have taken over my Clan.”
“What do you mean?” Bramblestar padded along the branch, thrusting his muzzle close as shocked mews rang from the crowd.
Rowanstar met the ThunderClan leader’s gaze. “Before we left for the Gathering, the rogues entered our camp.”
Mistystar stiffened. “Was there a battle? Are many hurt?”
“There was no battle.” Shame glittered in Rowanstar’s gaze. “My Clan chose them over me.”
“They chose them?” Bramblestar sounded puzzled. “What do you mean?”
“They said that any ShadowClan cat who came here tonight would not be allowed to return to the Clan.”
Twigpaw stared at the ShadowClan cats in confusion. But where is Violetpaw? She couldn’t have decided to stay among the rogues—could she? Twigpaw felt cold as she watched Rowanstar’s paws tremble beneath him. He no longer looked like a leader. He looked like a hungry, frightened loner.
Onestar curled his lip. “I always said that ShadowClan was no better than rogues.”
Rowanstar glared at him, energy sparking though his pelt suddenly. “That’s not true! They have just made a mistake!”
Tigerheart called out from below. “The real ShadowClan cats will come to their senses before long and drive the invaders out!”
Tawnypelt stood beside her son, her chin high. “The sickness scared them. They are like frightened kits looking for someone strong to protect them!”
Onestar’s tail flicked ominously. “And why didn’t they look to Rowanstar? Isn’t he strong?”
Rowanstar paws suddenly steadied on the branch. He lifted his head, his shoulders squaring. “I have been sick. Crowfrost has died. For days ShadowClan had no leadership, thanks to you. If you’d given us the herb earlier, this might never have happened.”
Murmurs of agreement sounded around Twigpaw. She turned her head, seeing RiverClan and ThunderClan cats nodding. Even some of the WindClan cats were staring accusingly at their leader.
“What’s done is done.” Bramblestar’s mew was calm. “For now Rowanstar, Tawnypelt, and Tigerheart will be welcome in ThunderClan. They can stay until their Clanmates realize their mistake.”
Tawnypelt hissed miserably. “If they realize their mistake.”
Bramblestar blinked at her sympathetically. “I know you feel betrayed. But it takes more than sickness and rogues to destroy the bonds of Clanship.”
Onestar grunted. “Not in ShadowClan.”
Rowanstar turned on the WindClan leader, teeth bared. Twigpaw’s heart lurched. Was he going to attack Onestar? Her breath caught in her throat, but the ginger tom hesitated, then backed away. He turned to Bramblestar. “Thank you for your offer. We will be honored to stay with ThunderClan.”
Honeypaw snorted beside Twigpaw. “Oh, great,” she huffed sarcastically. “ShadowClan cats in our camp.”
Twigpaw hardly heard her denmate. But where is Violetpaw? Why had she decided to stay with the rogues? What if they were holding her against her will? Was she in danger? Panic gripped Twigpaw’s heart with stone claws.
“Are you okay?” Honeypaw stared at her bristling pelt.
“My sister,” Twigpaw whispered hoarsely. “She’s with the rogues.” Her paws itched to race to the ShadowClan camp. She had to speak with Violetpaw. She had to know she was okay.
Paws pattered behind Twigpaw as Ivypool caught up to her the next day. They were approaching the border of ShadowClan, and Ivypool was hesitating. “You’re really worried, aren’t you?”
“Imagine if it was Dovewing!” Twigpaw snapped.
Ivypool didn’t reply, but she stayed in step with Twigpaw.
“All I want to do is check that she’s okay.” Twigpaw felt hot. She didn’t like being so disrespectful, but this was important.
“What if ShadowClan takes you prisoner again?” Ivypool pointed out. “There’s no Crowfrost around this time to let you go.”
Twigpaw padded on, pressing back the fear churning in her belly. “It’s just a risk I’ll have to take. You can go back to camp. I don’t mind going by myself.”
Ivypool’s ears twitched uneasily. “I’m not letting you cross the border alone.”
Twigpaw glanced at Ivypool. “Maybe you can just wait there for me while I slip across.” She didn’t want to get her mentor into trouble.
“I’m not letting you out of my sight.” Ivypool fell quiet for a few moments as they scrambled down a steep slope and leaped over a stream. On the far side, Twigpaw paused to catch her breath.
Ivypool stopped beside her. “Having ShadowClan cats in our camp is strange. I’m not sure I like it.”
“I guess.” Twigpaw headed toward the border once more.
Ivypool fell in beside her. “Two leaders and two deputies in one camp is just way too many. Did you see Tigerheart and Squirrelflight getting into it this morning about which to send out first, the border or the hunting patrols? I thought Squirrelflight was going to attack him. It was like a rabbit had just given her hunting advice. And Rowanstar!” Ivypool rolled her eyes. “He follows Bramblestar around like a shadow, giving ‘tips.’”
“They seem all right,” Twigpaw said with a flick of her tail. “Anyway, they’ll be gone soon, we hope.”
“I guess.” Ivypool didn’t sound convinced. “I’d like to see them all go home soon. Especially Tigerheart.”
Twigpaw looked at her mentor, surprised. “Why?”
Ivypool didn’t return her gaze. “I’m not sure it’s good for Dovewing to have him around the camp.”
“Why not?” Twigpaw frowned, puzzled. “He doesn’t seem so bad.” She remembered the prickliness between the two warriors when they’d met in the forest.
“If only.” Ivypool lowered her voice. “You know what it feels like to worry about your littermate, don’t you? I mean, that’s why we’re here.”
Twigpaw looked at her in surprise.
“Of course.”
Ivypool flicked her ear. “Well, this is a secret, so you mustn’t tell, but Tigerheart and Dovewing used to have feelings for each other.”
“Feelings?” Twigpaw took a moment to understand. “You mean they liked each other?”
“I think it was a bit more than like.” Ivypool sounded disapproving. “But they’re in different Clans, so it couldn’t go anywhere. It’s not good for things like that to be stirred up.”
Twigpaw kept walking, her mind spinning. Dovewing and Tigerheart were in different Clans . . . just like her and Violetpaw. Couldn’t Ivypool see that it was even worse to be separated from your kin? To not even be able to worry about her littermate properly, because she never knew what was going on?
The thought flitted away as ShadowClan scent touched her nose. They were near the border. She could see the sprawling bramble that straddled the scent line. Slowing, she led Ivypool to the edge and crept along it. She peered around the end of the bramble and scanned the forest ahead. Where the oaks turned to pine, shadows closed in.
She narrowed her eyes, wondering where she’d find the quickest trail to the ShadowClan camp. Last time she’d come, she’d had the cover of darkness. Would her gray pelt camouflage her in daylight? Doubt tugged at her paws. Perhaps they should head home after all. Ivypool was right; if they were caught this time, Crowfrost and Rowanstar wouldn’t be there to protect them. Only rogues.
Ferns shivered ahead. Paw steps scuffed the earth.
“Quick, hide!” Ivypool scuttled under the bramble and dragged Twigpaw after her.
Thorns snagged Twigpaw’s pelt, and she screwed up her eyes as Ivypool pulled her deeper into the thicket.
She could hear two ShadowClan cats talking as they approached.
A she-cat was purring. “Darktail’s not used to having to organize so many patrols. Did you see him this morning trying to decide who to send hunting? He looked like a confused badger.”
Twigpaw stiffened. She recognized that mew. Needletail. She wriggled to the edge of the brambles and peered out.
The silver she-cat was walking beside a one-eyed tom, looking pleased with herself. “He should appoint a deputy to help him.” She brushed close to the tom. “Someone like you.”
The tom stopped and gazed at Needletail. “You remember what happened the last time I challenged Darktail for leadership.”
“You won’t be challenging him this time, Rain,” Needletail murmured silkily. “You’ll be offering to help him out.”
Rain’s whiskers twitched with amusement. “You should offer to be deputy,” he meowed. “You’d be good at it.”
As he leaned forward to nuzzle Needletail’s cheek, Twigpaw hauled herself from beneath the brambles. Needletail cared about Violetpaw. She’d help, wouldn’t she?
“Twigpaw!” Ivypool grabbed for her tail.
Twigpaw tugged it free from her mentor’s paw and burst out in front of Needletail. She shook the prickles from her pelt. “Needletail. You have to help me!”
Needletail’s eyes widened. “Twigpaw? What are you doing here?”
“I have to speak with Violetpaw.”
“Violetpaw’s in camp.”
“But I have to know if she’s okay.” Twigpaw ignored the one-eyed tom, who was staring at her in surprise.
Ivypool slid from beneath the bramble and stood beside her. “We’re sorry to intrude,” she mewed apologetically. “But Twigpaw has been frantic about her sister. We just need to know she’s okay and then we’ll go.”
“Of course she’s okay!” Needletail bristled. “Do you think I’d let anything happen to her?”
“I have to talk to her.” Twigpaw dug her paws into the leaf-strewn earth. Now that she’d come this far, she was determined to see Violetpaw for herself. What if Needletail was lying?
Needletail frowned. “I can’t just go fetch her for you!”
Twigpaw stared at her pleadingly. “But you used to, remember? When we were kits. You and Alderpaw used to sneak us out so we could see each other. It’s no different from that.”
An impatient growl rumbled in Needletail’s throat.
Twigpaw leaned closer. “If you’re scared of Darktail, I understand. I’m happy to go to the camp myself.”
Rain’s gaze sharpened. “That would be brave.”
Twigpaw shrugged. “I want to see my sister, that’s all.” Please StarClan. Don’t let them smell my fear-scent!
Rain glanced at Needletail. “You’d better fetch her,” he grunted. “This is the sort of cat who gets other cats into trouble.” He scowled at Ivypool. “Are you her mentor?”
Ivypool lifted her muzzle. “Yes.”
“You shouldn’t have let her come here.”
“That’s like telling me I shouldn’t let the wind blow through the forest. Some things you just can’t argue with.”
Needletail flicked her tail crossly. “Wait here.” She turned and raced away.
Rain stayed where he was, staring at Twigpaw and Ivypool. He tipped his head. “How was the Gathering?” Amusement edged his mew. “Did the other Clans miss us?”
Ivypool’s pelt ruffled. “Why would we miss rogues at a Gathering?”
“Didn’t Rowanstar tell you?” Rain asked innocently. “We’re ShadowClan now. We’re just like you.”
Ivypool flexed her claws. “No, you’re not! You may have taken over ShadowClan’s camp, but you’re still rogues!”
Rain’s whiskers twitched.
Twigpaw could see that he was enjoying irritating Ivypool. “Ignore him.” She sat down, her gaze fixed on the forest where Needletail had disappeared.
Ivypool shifted uneasily beside her.
Rain stared at them, his gaze cold.
High above them, clouds stretched long paws over the pale blue sky. A breeze stirred the budding leaves. An age seemed to pass as they waited, but at last Twigpaw heard paw steps. She pricked her ears.
Familiar black-and-white fur flashed between the trunks. Violetpaw was running toward them, Needletail at her tail.
“Violetpaw!” Twigpaw rushed to meet her, startling Rain as she flashed past him. But she soon slithered to a halt, surprised at the anger in Violetpaw’s eyes.
“Why in StarClan did you come here?” Violetpaw was glaring at her. “You could have gotten Needletail into trouble. Darktail asked her what she was doing back at camp. She had to lie.”
Twigpaw blinked at her sister. Did Violetpaw care more about Needletail getting into trouble than about seeing her? “I could get into trouble too, you know,” she snapped. “We’re not supposed to be here. But I had to find out if you were safe.”
“Of course I’m safe.” Violetpaw glanced at Needletail. “I have friends here.”
Irritation sparked beneath Twigpaw’s pelt. She nudged her sister aside and lowered her voice. “Are you really okay?” she hissed in Violetpaw’s ear when they were out of range of Needletail. Perhaps Violetpaw was putting on a show for the rogues.
“Yes!” Violetpaw drew away.
Twigpaw kept her voice soft. “You can come back with me and Ivypool. You don’t have to stay with the rogues. You can join ThunderClan, with me.” She stared desperately into Violetpaw’s amber eyes. This was their chance to be together again.
Violetpaw frowned. “Why should I? You didn’t want to join ShadowClan to be with me.”
“I didn’t want to leave you! But I couldn’t turn my tail on my Clanmates.”
“Neither can I. Go back to your Clan and I’ll go back to mine.”
Twigpaw stared at her. “We’re still sisters, right?”
Violetpaw blinked slowly. “I suppose.” She glanced at Needletail again. “But we’ve each found our own Clan. We’ve each found where we belong.”
Twigpaw stared at her. Was Violetpaw telling her they could never be together again?
A paw knocked Twigpaw aside. “Stop whispering!” Needletail pushed between them and glared at Twigpaw.
“It’s okay,” Violetpaw mewed. “We’re
done.”
“Good.” Needletail whisked her tail, still staring at Twigpaw. “Now leave.”
Ivypool padded forward. “Is everything okay?”
Twigpaw nodded. “Everything’s fine—”
Needletail lashed out, slicing Twigpaw’s ear tip with a claw. “I said leave!”
Twigpaw flinched as pain seared through her.
“How dare you?” Ivypool hurled herself at Needletail. Hissing, she dragged Needletail to the ground, pummeling her belly with her hind paws. Needletail wriggled free, glowering at Ivypool. The smell of blood tainted the air as fur fluttered around them.
“Stop!” Panic flashed through Twigpaw. Rain was padding closer. “There’s no need to fight.”
Needletail and Rain circled them, eyes slitted and growls rumbling in their throats.
Violetpaw shoved Twigpaw away, her frightened gaze on the one-eyed tom. “Run! Get away from here before you get hurt!”
Ivypool nodded to Twigpaw. “Let’s go.”
Twigpaw ran. Her paws sent leaf litter flying as she hared around the bramble and crossed the scent line. She felt Ivypool’s breath at her tail and heard Rain and Needletail chasing them. Pushing harder, she raced into ThunderClan territory. Ivypool pounded after her. Behind them, the sound of paw steps faded. She glanced back. Needletail and Rain were standing at the border, backs arched. Violetpaw stood beside them, watching with round, sad eyes.
Good-bye, Violetpaw. Twigpaw slowed, her lungs burning. Was that the last she’d see of her sister? Now that ShadowClan had turned rogue, could they ever meet again? She stumbled as her paws grew numb beneath her. Grief choked her. She and Violetpaw had chosen different Clans. Maybe their bond of kinship wasn’t strong enough to survive their decision.
CHAPTER 24
Alderpaw peered closer at Twigpaw’s ear. The split in the tip had opened again, and he could smell fresh blood oozing from it. The sun had set, but the light of the half-moon, seeping through the medicine-den entrance, gave enough light to work by.
He reached for the herbs Jayfeather stored beside the pool for cats who came in with fresh cuts and scratches. The marigold would clear up any infection. “Remind me how you got this wound?” Alderpaw asked casually. He had asked Twigpaw when she’d first come to him, the day after the Gathering, when the nick in her ear was fresh. She’d just shrugged and told him it was a training accident.